Charlotte Leslie

{{Short description|British Conservative Party politician}} {{Lead rewrite|date=April 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2014}} {{Use British English|date=November 2014}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Charlotte Leslie | honorific_suffix = | image = | office = Director of the [[Conservative Middle East Council]] | term_start = July 2017 | term_end = | predecessor = ''Office created'' | office1 = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] <br /> for [[Bristol North West]] | parliament = | majority = | predecessor1 = [[Doug Naysmith]] | successor1 = [[Darren Jones]] | term_start1 = 6 May 2010 | term_end1 = 3 May 2017 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|08|11|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Liverpool]], England | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = | party = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] | relations = | children = | alma_mater = [[Balliol College, Oxford]] | occupation = | profession = | signature = | website = [https://twitter.com/CharlotteLeslie] | footnotes = }}

'''Charlotte Leslie''' (born 11 August 1978<ref>{{cite news|title=Charlotte Leslie MP|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/62717.stm|work=Democracy Live|publisher=BBC|access-date=20 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129221929/http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/62717.stm|archive-date=29 November 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>) is a British [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] politician who is the current Director of the [[Conservative Middle East Council]]. She was the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for the [[Bristol North West]] constituency, losing her seat at the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]].<ref name="BBC2010">{{cite news |url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/a71.stm |title = Election 2010: Bristol North West |work = BBC News |publisher = BBC |date = 7 May 2010 |access-date = 7 May 2010 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170823105600/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/a71.stm |archive-date = 23 August 2017 |df = dmy-all }}</ref>

==Early life== Born in Liverpool in 1978,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/bristolnorthwest/ |title=UK Polling Report |publisher=UK Polling Report |access-date=2014-06-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413175239/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/bristolnorthwest/ |archive-date=13 April 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Leslie moved to Bristol with her family when she was two. Her father worked as an orthopaedic surgeon at [[Southmead Hospital]] in Bristol and the [[Bristol Royal Infirmary]].<ref name="charlotteleslie.com">{{cite web |url=http://charlotteleslie.com/about-charlotte/ |title=About Charlotte |publisher=Charlotteleslie.com |access-date=2014-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605044411/http://charlotteleslie.com/about-charlotte/ |archive-date=5 June 2014 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Her mother is a British triathlon champion for her age group,<ref>{{cite web |last=Bristol |first=The |url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/MP-s-mum-tri-world-title-British-triathlon-win/story-19550695-detail/story.html |title=MP's mum to 'tri' for world title after British triathlon win |publisher=Bristol Post |date=2013-07-22 |access-date=2014-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312214118/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/MP-s-mum-tri-world-title-British-triathlon-win/story-19550695-detail/story.html |archive-date=12 March 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and in 2013, finished 9th in the World Triathlon Grand Final.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.triathlon.org/athletes/results/jane_leslie/16503 |title=Jane Leslie |publisher=Triathlon.org |access-date=2014-06-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204215952/http://www.triathlon.org/athletes/results/jane_leslie/16503 |archive-date=4 February 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Leslie was privately educated at [[Badminton School]] and [[Millfield]], before studying Classics at [[Balliol College, Oxford]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.voicesfromoxford.org/people/charlotte-leslie-mp/234 |title=Charlotte Leslie MP |publisher=Voices From Oxford |access-date=2014-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312225119/http://www.voicesfromoxford.org/people/charlotte-leslie-mp/234 |archive-date=12 March 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> She graduated in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://charlotteleslie.com/charlotte-leslie-mp-syria-clarity-and-credibility-were-of-the-essence-not-speed/ |title=Syria&nbsp;– Clarity and Credibility were of the essence, not speed! |publisher=Charlotteleslie.com |access-date=2014-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313023953/http://charlotteleslie.com/charlotte-leslie-mp-syria-clarity-and-credibility-were-of-the-essence-not-speed/ |archive-date=13 March 2014 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy-all }}</ref> She used to swim competitively, representing City of Bristol, and made the age-group national finals in the 200&nbsp;m and 100&nbsp;m backstroke.<ref name="charlotteleslie.com"/>

==Career== Whilst at university, and immediately afterwards, Leslie worked as a lifeguard on the beaches of North Cornwall, and then as a swimming coach and gym instructor at Thornbury Leisure Centre and part-time in a local pub. She later worked in television, for the BBC on ''[[The Weakest Link (British game show)|The Weakest Link]]'' and ''The Holiday Programme'', as well as on independent programmes at the BBC and Sky.<ref name="charlotteleslie.com"/> She has also worked as a part-time tutor in Classics as well as both a governor of Oxford Gardens Primary School in London and Avonmouth Primary School in Bristol.<ref>{{cite web |author=John Rentoul |url=http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/people/alumni/item/charlotte-leslie-research-fellow |title=Charlotte Leslie MP |publisher=Policyexchange.org.uk |date=2005-12-09 |access-date=2014-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526193551/http://policyexchange.org.uk/people/alumni/item/charlotte-leslie-research-fellow |archive-date=26 May 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In 2005, she joined the [[Policy Exchange]] think tank. Whilst there, she co-authored the report "More Good School Places", which was the first to recommend a "Pupil Premium" of £6000 extra funding for each disadvantaged child in the country's state schools.<ref>{{cite web |author=Rt Hon Michael Gove MP on The Renewal of Government |url=http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/publications/category/item/more-good-school-places |title=More Good School Places |publisher=Policy Exchange |date=2005-12-09 |access-date=2014-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312224743/http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/publications/category/item/more-good-school-places |archive-date=12 March 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> This policy was later adopted by the Coalition Government in 2010.

She later worked as an advisor to [[David Willetts]], the then Shadow Secretary of state for Children, Schools and Families, focusing mainly on special needs education, and for the Young Foundation and the National Autistic Society.<ref name="charlotteleslie.com"/>

Before her election in 2010, she edited ''Crossbow'', the journal of the [[Bow Group]],<ref name="charlotteleslie.com"/> and wrote for a variety of publications, including a regular blog for The Guardian.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/celebrity-big-brother-rumours-not-890622 |title=Ex-Bristol MP reacts to Celebrity Big Brother rumours |last=Ashcroft |first=Esme |date=7 December 2017 |work=Bristol Post |access-date=7 November 2019}}</ref>

In July 2017, Leslie was appointed the director of the [[Conservative Middle East Council]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thebristolcable.org/2017/07/former-mp-charlotte-leslies-lands-new-job-politics/ |title=Former MP Charlotte Leslie's lands new job in... politics! |publisher=The Bristol Cable |date=2017-07-17 |access-date=2017-09-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918202507/https://thebristolcable.org/2017/07/former-mp-charlotte-leslies-lands-new-job-politics/ |archive-date=18 September 2017 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://cmec.org.uk/about/people/director-cmec-%E2%80%93-charlotte-leslie/ |title=Director of CMEC – Charlotte Leslie |publisher=The Conservative Middle East Council |access-date=2017-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919010153/https://cmec.org.uk/about/people/director-cmec-%E2%80%93-charlotte-leslie |archive-date=19 September 2017 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In connection with a dispute involving the Conservative Middle East Council, [[Mohamed Amersi]] sued Leslie for defamation. In June 2023, Amersi's claim was struck out by the High Court. The judge criticised the way Amersi had conducted the legal proceedings.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Siddique |first1=Haroon |title=7 June 2023 Conservative donor has defamation case against Tory MP struck out |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jun/07/conservative-donor-has-defamation-case-against-tory-mp-struck-out |newspaper=The Guardian |date=7 June 2023 |publisher=Guardian |access-date=9 June 2023}}</ref>

==In Parliament (2010–2017)== In the general election of 6 May 2010, Charlotte Leslie was elected as the Member of Parliament for the bellwether constituency of Bristol North West at the age of thirty-one, making her one of the youngest MPs in Parliament. She polled 19,115 votes, 3,274 ahead of the Liberal Democrat candidate,<ref name="parliament.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/charlotte-leslie/3933 |title=Charlotte Leslie MP |publisher=Parliament.uk |access-date=2014-06-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701062628/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/charlotte-leslie/3933 |archive-date=1 July 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and achieved a swing of 8.86% from the incumbent Labour MP [[Doug Naysmith]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge10/final_res.htm |title=UK general election 2010: list of constituency results |publisher=Politicsresources.net |date=2010-09-13 |access-date=2014-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312212052/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge10/final_res.htm |archive-date=12 March 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

She made her [[maiden speech]] on 2 June 2010, focusing on the educational divisions existing in her constituency and praising organisations like Teach First which seek to break down such barriers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://charlotteleslie.com/charlotte-leslie-makes-maiden-commons-speech/ |title=Charlotte Leslie makes maiden Commons speech |publisher=Charlotteleslie.com |access-date=2014-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313023957/http://charlotteleslie.com/charlotte-leslie-makes-maiden-commons-speech/ |archive-date=13 March 2014 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

She became a member of the [[Education Select Committee]] in 2010, stepping down in 2013 after she became a member of the Health Select Committee.<ref name="parliament.uk"/> In 2011, she was appointed as the Government's "[[Big Society]]" ambassador by the Prime Minister.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/governance/news/content/8318/government_announces_big_society_ambassadors |title=Government announces Big Society ambassadors |publisher=Civilsociety.co.uk |access-date=2014-06-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129043406/http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/governance/news/content/8318/government_announces_big_society_ambassadors |archive-date=29 November 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Leslie became more prominent in 2013 after the publication of the report of the Francis Inquiry into the scandal at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. She was praised for her campaign during which she called for David Nicholson, the [[Chief Executive of NHS England]], to resign.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9936141/Charlotte-Leslie-MP-Sir-David-Nicholson-must-not-be-allowed-to-appoint-comrades-to-senior-NHS-positions.html |title=Charlotte Leslie MP: Sir David Nicholson must not be allowed to appoint 'comrades' to senior NHS positions |date=17 March 2013 |publisher=Telegraph |access-date=2014-06-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420211842/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9936141/Charlotte-Leslie-MP-Sir-David-Nicholson-must-not-be-allowed-to-appoint-comrades-to-senior-NHS-positions.html |archive-date=20 April 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In May 2013, Nicholson resigned, after a reign of 6 years, following sustained political and press criticism of his role in the Mid-Staffs scandal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-05-21 |title=Sir David Nicholson, chief executive of NHS England, announces he is to quit |url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/may/21/sir-david-nicholson-to-quit-nhs |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

Leslie's campaign culminated in her winning "Backbencher of the Year" at ''[[The Spectator]]''{{'}}s 2013 Parliamentarian of the Year awards.<ref name="blogs.spectator.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2013/11/parliamentarian-of-year-awards-2013-the-winners/|title=Parliamentarian of Year awards 2013: the winners|date=2013-11-07|publisher=Blogs.spectator.co.uk|access-date=2014-06-12|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713021236/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2013/11/parliamentarian-of-year-awards-2013-the-winners/|archive-date=13 July 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

She has also led calls in Parliament for the creation of a Royal College of Teaching,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/14/royal-college-of-teaching-without-politics-tristram-hunt |title=A Royal College of Teaching could work&nbsp;– if it's a politician-free zone |newspaper=The Guardian |date=14 January 2014 |publisher=theguardian.com |access-date=2014-06-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312213208/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/14/royal-college-of-teaching-without-politics-tristram-hunt |archive-date=12 March 2014 |df=dmy-all |last1=Leslie |first1=Charlotte }}</ref> publishing a book on the subject in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.dropbox.com/s/oh5mygbnh5orwcm/RCoTBooklet.pdf?v=0mwns |title=RCoTBooklet.pdf |publisher=Dropbox |access-date=2014-06-12}}</ref> She was also a trustee on the Teacher Development Trust.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teacherdevelopmenttrust.org/about/ |title=Mission |publisher=Teacher Development Trust |access-date=2014-06-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320215458/http://www.teacherdevelopmenttrust.org/about/ |archive-date=20 March 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

She re-formed the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Boxing in 2011, and was its chair for approximately 6 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13939299 |title=Boxing encouraged by Bristol MP's all-party group |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2011-06-28 |access-date=2014-06-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925223558/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13939299 |archive-date=25 September 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> She was also a member of the APPGs on Autism, Beer, National Citizens' Service and Volunteering, and Sport.<ref name="charlotteleslie.com" />

She was praised in Chancellor [[George Osborne]]'s budget speech of 2012 for her campaign to scrap the beer duty escalator, which added 2% plus inflation to the cost of beer each year. Osborne removed the escalator and cut 1p off beer duty.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southwestbusiness.co.uk/news/21032013092759-budget-2013--chancellor-praises-bristol-mp-charlotte-leslies-campaign-to-scrap-duty-escalator/ |title=Budget 2013: Chancellor praises Bristol MP Charlotte Leslie's campaign to scrap duty escalator |publisher=Southwestbusiness.co.uk |date=2013-03-21 |access-date=2014-06-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312213053/http://www.southwestbusiness.co.uk/news/21032013092759-budget-2013--chancellor-praises-bristol-mp-charlotte-leslies-campaign-to-scrap-duty-escalator/ |archive-date=12 March 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In April 2014, Leslie apologised to the House of Commons following accusations that she had failed to declare financial donations in the Register of MPs' Financial Interests.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-MP-Charlotte-Leslie-apologises-failing/story-20929348-detail/story.html |title=Bristol MP Charlotte Leslie apologises for failing to declare cash donations |publisher=bristolpost.co.uk |date=2014-04-14 |access-date=2014-08-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820114351/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-MP-Charlotte-Leslie-apologises-failing/story-20929348-detail/story.html |archive-date=20 August 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> However, in July 2014, the Standards Commissioner ruled that Leslie had not breached the rules, although she had already apologised for any error.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 July 2014 |title=BRISTOL MP CLEARED OF BREACHING PARLIAMENTARY RULES |url=https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/update/2014-07-21/charlotte-leslie-is-cleared-of-breaching-parliamentary-rules/ |work=ITV News}}</ref>

For several months, Leslie chaired the Commons All Party Parliamentary Group on [[Saudi Arabia]]. Before Christmas, in 2016, she accepted a food hamper from the Saudi Arabia [[Embassy of Saudi Arabia, London|embassy in London]].<ref>{{cite magazine |date=10 February 2017 |title=Culture cash |magazine=[[Private Eye]] |location=London |publisher=Pressdram Ltd. }}</ref> Leslie estimated the value of the gift to be approximately £500, and accordingly declared it in the Register of Members' Interests.<ref>{{Cite web |last=House of Commons |first=Register of Members' Financial Interests |date= |title=Register of Members' Interests |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/170502/leslie_charlotte.htm }}</ref> In April 2017, she was part of a 5 day delegation of a total of 7 cross-Party MPs to Saudi Arabia. Travel and accommodation expenses were paid for by the Kingdom, to "strengthen British-Saudi Arabian diplomatic relations." This was also declared accordingly by Leslie in the Register of Members' Interests.

===Brexit=== Leslie announced before the [[Brexit referendum]] that she would support Brexit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://charlotteleslie.com/statement-on-eu-referendum/|title=Statement on EU Referendum {{!}} Charlotte Leslie|website=charlotteleslie.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424085732/http://charlotteleslie.com/statement-on-eu-referendum/|archive-date=24 April 2017|url-status=usurped|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bristol North West MP chooses Brexit|url=http://www.itv.com/news/west/update/2016-06-20/bristol-north-west-mp-chooses-brexit/|access-date=23 April 2017|publisher=ITV|date=20 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424085838/http://www.itv.com/news/west/update/2016-06-20/bristol-north-west-mp-chooses-brexit/|archive-date=24 April 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Previously she had been a member of the [[Fresh Start Project|Fresh Start]] group of Conservative MPs, which campaigned for far-reaching reform of the European Union. She contributed to its work on social and employment law<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.openeurope.org.uk/Content/Documents/OEFS_Preliminary_Programme_EU_Reform_Conference_-_December_2013.pdf|title=A pan-European Conference for EU reform|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312213119/http://www.openeurope.org.uk/Content/Documents/OEFS_Preliminary_Programme_EU_Reform_Conference_-_December_2013.pdf|archive-date=12 March 2014|access-date=17 October 2015}}</ref> and on the EU's impact on the National Health Service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eufreshstart.org/downloads/eunhs.pdf|title=The EU and the NHS|access-date=8 March 2015|publisher=Fresh Start|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211075405/http://eufreshstart.org/downloads/eunhs.pdf|archive-date=11 February 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2011, she presented a Ten Minute Rule Bill to exempt the NHS from the Working Time Directive.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wR5jAzNO00 |title=Charlotte Leslie's Ten Minute Rule Bill on the European Working Time Directive |date=19 August 2013 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=2014-06-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710040109/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wR5jAzNO00 |archive-date=10 July 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==In Bristol (2010– )== Locally, her work has focused on transport. She has campaigned extensively for the re-opening of the Henbury Loop rail line around the north of her former constituency,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-23630850 |title=Bristol Henbury Loop railway line case pushed by MP |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2013-08-09 |access-date=2014-06-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303073017/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-23630850 |archive-date=3 March 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and for the introduction of a smartcard on local transport.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bristol |first=The |url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-needs-Oyster-card-MP-Charlotte-Leslie/story-19885777-detail/story.html |title="Why Bristol needs its own Oyster card": MP Charlotte Leslie |publisher=Bristol Post |date=2013-10-04 |access-date=2014-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301022814/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-needs-Oyster-card-MP-Charlotte-Leslie/story-19885777-detail/story.html |archive-date=1 March 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

She supported the creation of an elected mayoralty in Bristol,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://charlotteleslie.com/charlotte-leslie-backs-campaign-to-have-an-elected-mayor-for-bristol/ |title=Charlotte Leslie backs campaign to have an elected mayor for Bristol |publisher=Charlotteleslie.com |access-date=2014-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313023959/http://charlotteleslie.com/charlotte-leslie-backs-campaign-to-have-an-elected-mayor-for-bristol/ |archive-date=13 March 2014 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy-all }}</ref> which became one of the few cities voting on an elected mayor to choose to have one in 2012.

She is a strong supporter of Free Schools and worked with local parents to form a "Parents Voice" group <ref>{{cite web |url=http://charlotteleslie.com/parents-voice-campaign-for-a-new-secondary-school-launched/ |title='Parents' Voice' campaign for a new secondary school launched |publisher=Charlotteleslie.com |access-date=2014-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313023950/http://charlotteleslie.com/parents-voice-campaign-for-a-new-secondary-school-launched/ |archive-date=13 March 2014 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy-all }}</ref> to set up the Bristol Free School, which, in 2011, became one of the first Free Schools to open.

In 2013, Leslie backed Bristol Rovers' plans to move to a new stadium.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bristol |first=The |url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-Rovers-stadium-row-MP-gets-David-Cameron/story-20044658-detail/story.html |title=Bristol Rovers stadium row: MP gets David Cameron onside |publisher=Bristol Post |date=2013-11-07 |access-date=2014-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312224708/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-Rovers-stadium-row-MP-gets-David-Cameron/story-20044658-detail/story.html |archive-date=12 March 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> She spoke out strongly against the TRASH group's opposition to the proposal for a new Sainsburys on the current Memorial Ground site.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bristol |first=The |url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/TRASH-Campaigners-holding-Bristol-ransom-says-MP/story-19933394-detail/story.html |title=TRASH Campaigners are "holding Bristol to ransom", says MP |publisher=Bristol Post |date=2013-10-15 |access-date=2014-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228153924/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/TRASH-Campaigners-holding-Bristol-ransom-says-MP/story-19933394-detail/story.html |archive-date=28 February 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Her petition on the subject attracted over 13,000 signatures. (The High Court review of the decision to grant [[planning permission]] was dismissed<ref>{{cite web |last=Bristol |first=The |url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Game-Rovers-joy-judge-kicks-objections-store/story-20836814-detail/story.html |title=Game on: Bristol Rovers' joy as judge kicks out objections to store |publisher=Bristol Post |date=2014-03-21 |access-date=2014-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327102318/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Game-Rovers-joy-judge-kicks-objections-store/story-20836814-detail/story.html |archive-date=27 March 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> but in the event neither the supermarket nor the stadium were built.)

==Personal life== Leslie lives in Westbury-on-Trym in her former constituency.<ref name="charlotteleslie.com"/> In her spare time, she enjoys surfing, writing, art, listening to Bob Dylan, running and swimming. She is the President of Avonmouth [[National Smelting Company]] Boxing Club.<ref name="charlotteleslie.com"/>

She became engaged to John Darvall, a [[BBC Radio Bristol]] presenter and twice married father of four, on Christmas Day, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-MP-Charlotte-Leslie-marry-BBC-Radio/story-26010226-detail/story.html|title=Bristol MP Charlotte Leslie to marry BBC Radio Bristol presenter|work=Bristol Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213043747/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-MP-Charlotte-Leslie-marry-BBC-Radio/story-26010226-detail/story.html|archive-date=13 February 2015|df=dmy-all|access-date=13 February 2015}}</ref> Just before the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]] Darvall was moved from his news based morning show to an afternoon slot to protect the BBC's impartiality and to avoid accusations of a conflict of interest if ever asked to interview Leslie during the election. The presenter strongly objected to the change.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11498823/BBC-Radio-DJ-vents-anger-after-being-ousted-for-getting-engaged-to-Tory-MP.html "BBC Radio DJ vents anger after being ousted for getting engaged to Tory MP"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327145242/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11498823/BBC-Radio-DJ-vents-anger-after-being-ousted-for-getting-engaged-to-Tory-MP.html |date=27 March 2015 }}, ''Daily Telegraph'', 27 March 2015</ref> The two separated in 2016.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links== *[http://www.bsgconservatives.com/ Bristol & South Gloucestershire Conservatives] *{{UK MP links | parliament = charlotte-leslie/3933 | guardian = 11984/charlotte-leslie | publicwhip = Charlotte_Leslie | theywork = charlotte_leslie | record = Charlotte-Leslie/Bristol-North-West/881 | bbc = 62717.stm | journalisted = charlotte-leslie }} *[https://www.theguardian.com/profile/charlotteleslie?INTCMP=SRCH Contributor page] at ''[[The Guardian]]''

{{s-start}} {{s-par|uk}} {{s-bef|before=[[Doug Naysmith]]}} {{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|[[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Bristol North West]]}}|years=[[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]]–[[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]]}} {{s-aft|after=[[Darren Jones]]}} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leslie, Charlotte}} [[Category:1978 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People educated at Badminton School]] [[Category:People educated at Millfield]] [[Category:Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford]] [[Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies]] [[Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]] [[Category:Members of Parliament for Bristol]] [[Category:UK MPs 2010–2015]] [[Category:UK MPs 2015–2017]] [[Category:21st-century British women politicians]] [[Category:21st-century English women]] [[Category:21st-century English politicians]]