Edward Leigh
Sir Edward Julian Egerton Leigh (born 20 July 1950) is a British Conservative Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Gainsborough, previously Gainsborough and Horncastle, since 1983.
The Right Honourable Sir Edward Leigh FCIArb MP | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2020 | |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | |
| In office 2 November 1990 – 27 May 1993 | |
| Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher John Major |
| Preceded by | John Redwood |
| Succeeded by | Neil Hamilton The Baroness Denton |
| Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee | |
| In office 7 June 2001 – 9 June 2010 | |
| Preceded by | David Davis |
| Succeeded by | Dame Margaret Hodge |
| Member of Parliament for Gainsborough Gainsborough and Horncastle (1983–1997) | |
| Assumed office 9 June 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Marcus Kimball |
| Majority | 22,967 (45.0%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edward Julian Egerton Leigh 20 July 1950 London, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Mary Goodman (m. 1984) |
| Children | 6 |
| Alma mater | University College, Durham |
| Profession | Barrister |
| Website | www.edwardleigh.org.uk |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Rank | Trooper |
| Unit | Honourable Artillery Company |
Leigh was knighted in the Queen's 2013 Birthday Honours for "public and political service"; he has also received honours from the French and Italian governments.
Initially dubbed "the Viscount" in parliamentary circles alluding to his landed gentry background, Leigh has a reputation at Westminster for his independence of mind as a "serial rebeller", who is prepared to vote against his own political party if it conflicts with his own principles. He was one of the original Maastricht Rebels and was reportedly sacked for organising Euro-rebels among ministers. In 2003 Leigh opposed military intervention in Iraq; he has since called for those who voted for the Iraq War, and are still seeking to justify their support for it, to be held to account.
He served as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee from 2001 to 2010, investigating government waste and seeking value for money in public expenditure. Leigh stepped down at the end of the parliamentary session in 2010, it being customary for an opposition MP to hold this post.
Leigh is a prominent Roman Catholic politician and a former President of the Catholic Union of Great Britain. He has edited and authored three books: Right Thinking (1988); The Nation That Forgot God (2008); and Monastery of the Mind (2012).