{{Short description|British politician}} {{other people|Henry Bellingham}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}} {{Use British English|date=November 2013}} {{refimprove|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Right Honourable | image = Official portrait of Sir Henry Bellingham crop 2.jpg | honorific_suffix = | name = The Lord Bellingham | caption = Official portrait, 2017 | office = Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Africa | prime_minister = David Cameron | term_start = 11 May 2010 | term_end = 5 September 2012 | predecessor = The Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead | successor = Mark Simmonds | office1 = Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Asia and the Pacific | prime_minister1 = David Cameron | term_start1 = 11 May 2010 | term_end1 = 5 September 2012 | predecessor1 = Chris Bryant{{efn|As Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe and Asia.}} | successor1 = Mark Simmonds | office2 = Member of the House of Lords | status2 = Lord Temporal | term_label2 = Life peerage | term_start2 = 5 November 2020 | term_end2 = | office3 = Member of Parliament <br /> for North West Norfolk | term_start3 = 7 June 2001 | term_end3 = 6 November 2019 | predecessor3 = George Turner | successor3 = James Wild | term_start4 = 9 June 1983 | term_end4 = 8 April 1997 | predecessor4 = Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler | successor4 = George Turner | office5 = Shadow portfolios | suboffice5 = Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry | subterm5 = 2002–2003 | suboffice6 = Shadow Minister for Economic Affairs | subterm6 = 2002–2005 | suboffice7 = Opposition Whip | subterm7 = 2005–2006 | suboffice8 = Shadow Minister for Constitutional Affairs and Justice | subterm8 = 2006–2010 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|03|29|df=yes}} | birth_place = Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = Emma Whiteley | party = Conservative | relations = | children = | alma_mater = Magdalene College, Cambridge | website = [http://www.henrybellingham.com henrybellingham.com]<br />[http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mr-henry-bellingham/1441 parliament..henry-bellingham] | occupation = }}
'''Henry Campbell Bellingham, Baron Bellingham''' (born 29 March 1955) is a British Conservative politician who sits in the House of Lords and former barrister. He was first elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Norfolk in 1983. He lost his seat in 1997, but regained it in 2001 and retained it until standing down in 2019.
He was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Asia and the Pacific on 14 May 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/who-we-are/our-ministers/henry-bellingham |title=Our Ministers "Henry Bellingham MP |publisher=Foreign and Commonwealth Office |access-date=11 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101003011913/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/who-we-are/our-ministers/henry-bellingham |archive-date=3 October 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Asia and the Pacific) |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--23 |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> a position he held until 5 September 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/mp_henry_bellingham_loses_minister_post_and_will_make_campaigning_on_incinerator_his_priority_1_1506664 |title=MP Henry Bellingham loses minister post |newspaper=Eastern Daily Press |access-date=6 September 2012 }}{{dead link|date=March 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==Early life== Bellingham was born on 29 March 1955 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, the son of Henry Bellingham and his wife Emma Whiteley.<ref>{{Who's Who|title=Bellingham Baron cr 2020 (Life Peer), of Congham in the County of Norfolk (Henry Campbell Bellingham)|id=U7176}}</ref> He was privately educated at Wellesley House School in the town of Broadstairs in Kent, followed by Eton College in Berkshire. He went on to study at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he received a law degree in 1977. During his time at Cambridge, he was a member of Cambridge University Liberal Club and served as Joint Master of the Cambridge University Draghounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://keynessociety.wordpress.com/about-the-keynes-society/|title=About us|date=28 February 2009|access-date=21 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831181530/http://keynessociety.wordpress.com/about-the-keynes-society/|archive-date=31 August 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
Bellingham also took a short service commission in the Guards for a year between school and university. He trained at the Inns of Court School of Law, and joined the Middle Temple in 1978 and practised as a barrister for eight years.
Bellingham is variously described as a direct descendant of John Bellingham, Spencer Perceval's assassin,<ref>{{Cite web|title = Lords Hansard text for 25 Apr 201225 Apr 2012 (pt 0001)|url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201212/ldhansrd/text/120425-0001.htm#12042545000859|website = www.publications.parliament.uk|access-date = 3 August 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150615145902/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201212/ldhansrd/text/120425-0001.htm#12042545000859|archive-date = 15 June 2015|url-status = live}}</ref> or as being from the same family.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Diary: Flowers finally lay to rest memory of assassinated PM| website=Independent.co.uk |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/diary/diary-flowers-finally-lay-to-rest-memory-of-assassinated-pm-7737994.html|access-date = 3 August 2015|date = 12 May 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150925131227/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/diary/diary-flowers-finally-lay-to-rest-memory-of-assassinated-pm-7737994.html|archive-date = 25 September 2015|url-status = live}}</ref> In 1997 ''The Independent'' noted the historical coincidence that the general election candidate for the Referendum Party, Roger Percival, claimed to be a descendant of the slain Prime Minister. The paper had correctly predicted that Percival's intervention could hand the seat to Labour.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Election '97: Old feuds may give Labour a Norfolk seat| website=Independent.co.uk |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/election-97-old-feuds-may-give-labour-a-norfolk-seat-1268601.html|access-date = 3 August 2015|date = 22 April 1997|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150925084440/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/election-97-old-feuds-may-give-labour-a-norfolk-seat-1268601.html|archive-date = 25 September 2015|url-status = live}}</ref>
==Parliamentary career== Bellingham first entered Parliament at the 1983 election after winning the seat for North West Norfolk, having defeated the incumbent MP Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler, who in 1981 was the only Conservative to defect to the newly formed SDP. He held his seat until being defeated during the 1997 election. He contested his former seat at the election in 2001, and won it back. He was re-elected in 2005 with a 9000 vote majority, and again in 2010 with a majority of 14,810. He was re-elected at the 2015 general election and 2017 general election.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}
Bellingham was appointed as a Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry in July 2002, before becoming an Opposition Whip in May 2005. From November 2006 until the 2010 general election he was a Shadow Minister for the Department of Constitutional Affairs. He won the North West Norfolk seat in the 2010 election, and was appointed a Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the coalition government within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office covering; 'Overseas Territories, Africa, United Nations, economic issues, conflict resolution and climate change'.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}
In 2009, whilst debating the Queen's speech, he was described as "looking uncomfortable" when MPs joked about his distant ancestor John Bellingham, who assassinated Spencer Perceval. Bellingham later stated: "I wouldn't bring it up in conversation that I'm a descendant—or a near-descendant—of a murderer of a prime minister. But I don't try to deny it".<ref>{{Cite news|title = MP recalls a PM-killing ancestor|url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8375544.stm |publisher=BBC News |date = 26 November 2009|access-date = 3 August 2015}}</ref>
In 2011, he abstained on the military intervention in Libya.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2011-03-22|title=The full list of how MPs voted on Libya action|language=en-GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-12816279|access-date=2021-10-20}}</ref>
On 29 September 2011, while quoting Bellingham, the ''Antigua Observer'' described him as the United Kingdom's Minister of Overseas Territories.<ref name=AntiguaObserver2011-09-29> {{cite news |url = http://www.antiguaobserver.com/?p=65202 |title = UK hopes US will settle four ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees |work = Antigua Observer |date = 29 September 2011 |access-date = 4 October 2011 |quote = The US refused to resettle them within its borders, and a deal was struck with Brown, who quit as Premier last October before leaving politics altogether. Brown said he did it as a humanitarian gesture. |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120403044905/http://www.antiguaobserver.com/?p=65202 |archive-date = 3 April 2012 |df = dmy-all }} </ref>
While in Antigua, Bellingham had commented on the surprise decision of former Premier of Bermuda Ewart Brown to provide asylum to four former Uyghur captives in Guantanamo.
<blockquote>This is something that we weren't consulted on by the last (Brown) administration. We have spoken to the United States about it—it's our understanding that the arrangement was not to be permanent and we're looking to the US State Department to find a permanent solution. We're working with them to try and achieve that.</blockquote>
Bellingham became vice-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Speedway Racing in July 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/motorcycle-speedway.htm|title=Register Of All-Party Groups:Motorcycle Speedway|work=Parliament.uk|date=30 July 2015|access-date=26 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327080346/https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/motorcycle-speedway.htm|archive-date=27 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
In Parliament, he was a member of the Panel of Chairs, the Environment Committee, the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, the Trade & Industry Committee and the High Speed Rail (London–West Midlands) Bill Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/sir-henry-bellingham/1441|title=Henry Bellingham MP|publisher=GOV.UK|access-date=26 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027021715/https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/sir-henry-bellingham/1441|archive-date=27 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
Bellingham stood down from parliament in the 2019 general election, telling his constituents he had "agonised" over the decision.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-50291150|title=North West Norfolk MP Sir Henry Bellingham to stand down |publisher=BBC News |date=4 November 2019|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref>
==Business interests== In 2014, a mining company called Pathfinder Minerals appointed Bellingham as non-executive chairman 18 months after he stopped being Minister for Africa. It was reported that Bellingham was earning £4,000 per month for his work with Pathfinder and that he had lobbied on their behalf whilst working as Minister for Africa. ''The Daily Telegraph'' reported that the case raised concerns 'of a revolving door between Whitehall and the private sector, with ministers benefiting from contacts they made in office'. However, there was no suggestion of wrongdoing, and all the work had been declared in line with Parliamentary rules.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mozambique/11233343/The-minister-the-mine-and-the-1300-an-hour-payday.html|title=The minister, the mine and the £1,300-an-hour payday|date=15 November 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=25 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126005838/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mozambique/11233343/The-minister-the-mine-and-the-1300-an-hour-payday.html|archive-date=26 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
As a backbench MP, Bellingham was paid £6,448.25 per month. In The Register of Members' Financial Interests on 21 January 2019, Bellingham declared additional income amounting to £9,583 per month from four jobs:<ref>{{cite web|title=The Register of Members' Financial Interests as at 21 January 2019 – Bellingham, Sir Henry (North West Norfolk)|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/190121/bellingham_henry.htm|website=Parliament.uk|access-date=4 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207020055/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/190121/bellingham_henry.htm|archive-date=7 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=July 2021}} *Non-executive director of Developing Markets Associates Ltd, a global consultancy and investment conference organiser – £2,500 a month *Non-executive chairman of Pathfinder Minerals PLC, an AIM listed mining company – £2,083 per month *Senior Adviser to J. Stern & Co. LLP, a fund management company – £2,500 per month *Non-executive chairman of Clifton Africa Ltd, a private company specialising in housing and infrastructure construction in developing countries – £2,500 per month
==Personal life== Bellingham lives in Congham, which is situated within his former constituency, and London.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.theipsa.org.uk/mp-costs/your-mp/henry-bellingham/|title=IPSA|publisher=GOV.UK|access-date=26 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926032547/http://www.theipsa.org.uk/mp-costs/your-mp/henry-bellingham/|archive-date=26 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He married Emma Whiteley in August 1993 in Horsham, and they have one son.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}
Bellingham employed his wife as his Parliamentary Assistant.<ref name="auto"/> The practice of MPs employing family members has been criticised by some sections of the media on the lines that it promotes nepotism.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/11706561/One-in-four-MPs-employs-a-family-member-the-full-list-revealed.html|title=One in five MPs employs a family member: the full list revealed|date=29 June 2015|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=26 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402065627/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/11706561/One-in-four-MPs-employs-a-family-member-the-full-list-revealed.html|archive-date=2 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Mason|first1=Rowena|title=Keeping it in the family: new MPs continue to hire relatives as staff|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/29/mps-continue-hire-relatives-as-staff|access-date=26 October 2018|work=The Guardian|date=29 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810142533/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/29/mps-continue-hire-relatives-as-staff|archive-date=10 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Although MPs who were first elected in 2017 were banned from employing family members, the restriction was not retrospective – meaning that Bellingham's employment of his wife was lawful.<ref>{{cite news|title=MPs banned from employing spouses after election in expenses crackdown|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/mps-banned-from-employing-spouses-after-election-in-expenses-crackdown-a3520036.html|work=London Evening Standard|access-date=26 October 2018|date=21 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225210938/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/mps-banned-from-employing-spouses-after-election-in-expenses-crackdown-a3520036.html|archive-date=25 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Honours== Bellingham was knighted in the 2016 New Year Honours for political and parliamentary service by Prime Minister David Cameron.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=61450 |supp=y|page=N2|date=30 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New Year's Honours 2016 list|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/489049/NY2016HonoursFullList.pdf|website=GOV.UK|access-date=30 December 2015|date=30 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114132859/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/489049/NY2016HonoursFullList.pdf|archive-date=14 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
He was awarded a life peerage in 2020 by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2020-08-01/ex-mps-sir-henry-bellingham-and-mark-lancaster-head-to-the-lords|title=Ex-MPs Sir Henry Bellingham and Mark Lancaster head to the Lords|work=ITV News|date=1 August 2020|access-date=1 August 2020}}</ref> He was created '''Baron Bellingham''', '' of Congham in the County of Norfolk'', on 5 November.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3672757|title=Crown Office | The Gazette|website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref> He made his maiden speech in the budget debate in the Lords on 12 March 2021.
==See also== *Bellingham baronets
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Commons category-inline}} *{{UK MP links | parliament = mr-henry-bellingham/1441 | hansard = mr-henry-bellingham | guardian = 350/henry-bellingham | publicwhip = Henry_Bellingham | theywork = henry_bellingham | record = Henry-Bellingham/North-west-Norfolk/38 | bbc = 25734.stm | journalisted = }}
===Video clips=== * {{YouTube|9P3Jl_tI3ZY|Post Office closures}} * {{YouTube|MGQ2yGax8c0|Questioning Gerry Sutcliffe in the Commons in May 2006}} * {{C-SPAN|34357}}
{{s-start}} {{s-par|uk}} {{s-bef|before=Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for North West Norfolk|years=1983–1997}} {{s-aft|after=George Turner}} {{s-bef|before=George Turner}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for North West Norfolk|years=2001–2019}} {{s-aft|after=James Wild}} {{s-prec|uk}} {{s-bef|before=The Lord Woodley}} {{s-ttl|title=Gentlemen'''<br />''Baron Bellingham'' '''}} {{s-fol|after=The Lord Stewart of Dirleton}} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bellingham, Henry}} Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:People educated at Eton College Category:Alumni of Magdalene College, Cambridge Henry Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Category:UK MPs 1983–1987 Category:UK MPs 1987–1992 Category:UK MPs 1992–1997 Category:UK MPs 2001–2005 Category:UK MPs 2005–2010 Category:UK MPs 2010–2015 Category:UK MPs 2015–2017 Category:UK MPs 2017–2019 Category:Knights Bachelor Category:People from Cheltenham Category:People from Congham Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II Category:English barristers Category:Conservative Party (UK) life peers Category:UK MPs who were granted peerages