{{short description|British Conservative politician}} {{Use British English|date=August 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Felicity Buchan | honorific_suffix = | image = Official portrait of Felicity Buchan MP crop 2.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2019 | office = Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Homelessness | parliament = | predecessor = Andrew Stephenson | successor = Matthew Pennycook (Housing)<br>Rushanara Ali (Homelessness) | prime_minister = Rishi Sunak | majority = | term_start = 30 October 2022 | term_end = 5 July 2024 | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1970}} | birth_place = Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = | party = Conservative | alma_mater = Christ Church, Oxford | website = {{URL|felicitybuchan.com}} | office2 = Member of Parliament <br /> for Kensington | predecessor2 = Emma Dent Coad | majority2 = | term_start2 = 12 December 2019 | term_end2 = 30 May 2024 | successor2 = ''Constituency abolished'' | office1 = Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury | term_start1 = 8 September 2022 | term_end1 = 28 October 2022 | predecessor1 = Alan Mak | successor1 = James Cartlidge | prime_minister1 = Liz Truss }}
'''Felicity Christiana Buchan''' (born 1970) is a British politician and former banker who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kensington in London from 2019 until the seat's abolition in 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, she served as Parliamentary under-secretary of state for Housing and Homelessness in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities from October 2022 to July 2024. Prior to this, Buchan served as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury from September to October 2022.
Prior to her political career, Buchan worked in investment banking for JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America. Buchan stood unsuccessfully in two separate constituencies in the 2015 and 2017 elections.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> She was first elected to the House of Commons in the 2019 election, defeating incumbent Labour MP Emma Dent Coad.
== Early life and education== Buchan was born in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the daughter of Charles, a former Scottish National Party (SNP) councillor, and Georgina Buchan.<ref name="whoswho">{{cite web|title=Buchan, Felicity Christiana, (born 1970), MP (C) Kensington, since 2019|url=https://doi.org/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U293963|access-date=12 March 2021|website=Who's Who & Who Was Who|year=2020|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u293963|isbn=978-0-19-954088-4|archive-date=5 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705200307/https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-293963|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hughes |first1=Brendan |title=Tories sending British members to contest Westminster seats in north |url=http://www.irishnews.com/news/2015/04/07/news/tories-sending-british-members-to-contest-westminster-seats-in-north-120125/ |accessdate=29 December 2019 |work=The Irish News |date=7 April 2015 |archive-date=5 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705200302/https://www.irishnews.com/news/2015/04/07/news/tories-sending-british-members-to-contest-westminster-seats-in-north-120125/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She attended Fraserburgh Academy and subsequently studied law at Christ Church, Oxford.<ref name=Bond>{{cite web|url=https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/class-of-2019-meet-the-new-mps|publisher=Politics Home|date=16 December 2019|accessdate=7 September 2020|title=Class of 2019: Meet the new MPs|last=Bond|first=Daniel|archive-date=17 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617034129/https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/class-of-2019-meet-the-new-mps|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.felicitybuchan.com/kensington-news/meet-felicity|title=Meet Felicity|accessdate=7 September 2020|publisher=Felicity Buchan|archive-date=6 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106052349/https://www.felicitybuchan.com/kensington-news/meet-felicity|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Financial career== Buchan worked for a decade at American investment bank JPMorgan Chase in their syndicate and capital markets division, and was promoted to vice president of their European syndicate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/politics/bbb-borrowers-boosted-19990906-k8zr9|work=The Australian Financial Review|date=6 September 1999|accessdate=7 September 2020|last=Hogan|first=Roger|title=BBB borrowers boosted|archive-date=5 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705200251/https://www.afr.com/politics/bbb-borrowers-boosted-19990906-k8zr9|url-status=live}}</ref> She left the company in 2001 to join Bank of America as a managing director in its debt capital markets division.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fnlondon.com/articles/boa-bolsters-debt-capital-markets-team-20010419|title=BoA bolsters debt capital markets team|last=Townsend|first=Piers|work=Financial News|date=19 April 2001|accessdate=7 September 2020|archive-date=10 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810053144/https://www.fnlondon.com/articles/boa-bolsters-debt-capital-markets-team-20010419|url-status=live}}</ref> As of September 2022, she holds at least £70,000 of shares in both companies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/220905/buchan_felicity.htm|title=The Register of Members' Financial Interests As at 5 September 2022|accessdate=10 September 2022|publisher=UK Parliament}}</ref>
After leaving the financial services industry, she volunteered at a North Kensington children's charity and was the chair of governors of Bousfield Primary School.<ref name=Bond/>
==Early political career== Buchan contested South Down in Northern Ireland as a Conservative candidate in the 2015 general election, coming last with 318 (0.7%) votes.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.parliament.uk/election/2015-05-07/results/Location/Constituency/South%20Down|title=South Down parliamentary constituency – Election 2015|access-date=24 November 2019|publisher=UK Parliament}}</ref> She then contested the South Shields seat in Tyne and Wear in 2017, where she came second to the incumbent Labour Party MP, Emma Lewell-Buck, with 10,570 (25.9%) votes.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.parliament.uk/election/2017-06-08/results/Location/Constituency/South%20Shields|title=South Shields – 2017 Election Results – General Elections Online|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=24 November 2019|archive-date=12 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112040351/http://electionresults.parliament.uk/election/2017-06-08/results/Location/Constituency/South%20Shields|url-status=live}}</ref>
During the 2017 election campaign, Buchan wrote an article for the website BrexitCentral, in which she discussed her support for "a tough Brexit deal: that means leaving the Single Market, the Customs Union and the ECJ" and decried a London-centric view of politics.<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606015938/http://brexitcentral.com/labour-south-shields-granted-corbyn-brexit/|url=http://brexitcentral.com/labour-south-shields-granted-corbyn-brexit/|date=1 June 2017|url-status=dead|title=Labour can no longer take South Shields for granted thanks to Corbyn and Brexit|archivedate=6 June 2017|last=Buchan|first=Felicity|work=BrexitCentral}}</ref>
== Member of Parliament (2019-2024) ==
=== 2019 election === She was selected as the Conservative candidate for Kensington on 16 July 2019. Buchan had been the treasurer and a member of the board for the Kensington Chelsea & Fulham Conservatives Local Association, roles she had held until 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2019/07/felicity-buchan-selected-as-conservative-candidate-for-kensington.html|title=Felicity Buchan selected as Conservative candidate for Kensington|work=ConservativeHome|last=Wallace|first=Mark|date=16 July 2019|access-date=7 September 2020|archive-date=28 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928025655/https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2019/07/felicity-buchan-selected-as-conservative-candidate-for-kensington.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="whoswho" /> In an interview, Buchan stated she had lived in Kensington for 25 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DKAmedia |date=2019-12-11 |title="I celebrate contributions of the Polish community" – Felicity Buchan, Tory candidate for Kensington |url=https://www.britishpoles.uk/i-celebrate-contributions-of-the-polish-community-felicity-buchan-tory-candidate-for-kensington/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=BritishPoles.uk |language=pl-PL}}</ref>
When asked about her prior comments on Brexit during her 2017 campaign, she stated that she had "always campaigned for a good negotiated deal" and that she was not in favour of a "hard Brexit".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/woman-quest-win-back-kensington-17357163|work=MyLondon|title=The woman on a quest to win back Kensington – a jewel in the Conservative crown|date=3 December 2019|access-date=7 September 2020|last=Gregory|first=Julia|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805231105/https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/woman-quest-win-back-kensington-17357163|url-status=live}}</ref> She was elected as MP in the 2019 general election with a majority of 150.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000768|work=BBC News|title=Kensington|access-date=7 September 2020|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922144122/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000768|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Tenure === Following her election, she pledged to accept and help to implement the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry "with a sense of urgency". The purpose of the inquiry is to investigate the Grenfell Tower fire which occurred in 2017 in North Kensington, which lies within her constituency.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/grenfell-tower-truth-conservative-kensington-mp-felicity-buchan/|work=South West Londoner|accessdate=7 September 2020|title=Grenfell truth must come out, urges Conservative Kensington MP|date=13 December 2019|archive-date=5 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705200256/https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/news/13122019-grenfell-tower-truth-conservative-kensington-mp-felicity-buchan|url-status=live}}</ref> She was a member of the Treasury Select Committee between March 2020 and December 2021. Buchan joined the Finance Committee since March 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4821/career|title=Parliamentary career for Felicity Buchan|accessdate=10 September 2022}}</ref>
On 7 September 2020, Buchan voted against a Labour Party amendment to the Fire Safety Bill which was intended to implement the recommendations of the first phase of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry before the end of the consultation process. This was criticised by campaign group Grenfell United and opposition politicians. She defended her vote by stating the government was "committed to implementing the recommendations", and criticised the Labour Party for "misrepresenting the vote" for political reasons.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54069296|title=Grenfell recommendations will be implemented, says Robert Jenrick|work=BBC News|date=8 September 2020|access-date=8 September 2020|archive-date=10 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910075459/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54069296|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 23 August 2021, Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed Buchan as the UK's trade envoy to Iceland and Norway.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-new-trade-envoys-to-boost-british-business-around-the-world|title=PM announces new Trade Envoys to boost British business around the world|website=GOV.UK|date=23 August 2021|access-date=25 August 2021|archive-date=23 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823071605/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-new-trade-envoys-to-boost-british-business-around-the-world|url-status=live}}</ref> Buchan was appointed as a parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in September 2021.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=felicitybuchan|number=1440658372445884421|date=22 September 2021|accessdate=5 July 2022|title=I am delighted to be appointed a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (@beisgovuk). I am looking forward to working with the excellent Ministerial team of @KwasiKwarteng @GregHands @GeorgeFreemanMP @Lee4NED @scullyp}}</ref> Buchan resigned from her PPS role on 6 July 2022, in protest against the leadership of Prime Minister Boris Johnson over his handling of the Chris Pincher scandal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tory MP in most marginal London seat quits government role in protest at PM |url=https://www.itv.com/news/london/2022-07-06/tory-mp-in-most-marginal-london-seat-quits-government-role-in-protest-at-pm |access-date=6 July 2022 |work=ITV News |date=6 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
In the September 2022 Conservative leadership election, Buchan supported Liz Truss, arguing she would be best positioned to lead the party to victory in marginal constituencies.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Buchan |first=Felicity |date=2023-08-01 |title=Liz Truss can keep hold of our most marginal seats |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/liz-truss-can-keep-hold-of-our-most-marginal-seats-ksn66b5s3 |access-date=2023-08-02 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> Following Truss' victory, Buchan was appointed as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ministerial Appointments: September 2022|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-september-2022|access-date=9 September 2022|publisher=gov.uk}}</ref> In the October 2022 leadership election, Buchan supported the candidacy of Rishi Sunak.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-10-21 |title=How many backers do Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt have? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-63343308 |access-date=2023-08-02}}</ref> Following Sunak's victory, Buchan was appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Housing and Homelessness in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in October 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-25-october-2022|title=Ministerial Appointments: October - November 2022|date=25 October 2022|accessdate=14 January 2023|publisher=gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--212|title=Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Housing and Homelessness)|accessdate=14 January 2023|publisher=gov.uk}}</ref>
Buchan stood in the newly created Kensington and Bayswater constituency at the 2024 general election, but was defeated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election result for Kensington and Bayswater (Constituency) - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament |url=https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/4125/election/422 |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=members.parliament.uk |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life == Buchan is a member of the Chelsea Arts Club.<ref name="whoswho" />
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *{{UK MP links |parliament=4821 |publicwhip=Felicity_Buchan |theywork=felicity_buchan}}
{{s-start}} {{s-par|uk}} {{s-bef|before=Emma Dent Coad}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br>for Kensington|years=2019–2024}} {{s-non|reason=Constituency abolished}} {{s-end}}{{Exchequer Secretaries to the Treasury}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buchan, Felicity}} Category:1970 births Category:21st-century British women politicians Category:21st-century Scottish women politicians Category:Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford Category:Bank of America people Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies Category:JPMorgan Chase people Category:Living people Category:People educated at Fraserburgh Academy Category:People from Fraserburgh Category:UK MPs 2019–2024