Wikipedia

Matt Vickers

Matthew Alexander Vickers[1] (born 24 September 1983)[2] is a British Conservative politician who serves as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Stockton West, Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party and Shadow Minister of State for Illegal Immigration, Crime, Policing and Fire.

Matt Vickers
MP
Official portrait, 2021
Shadow Minister of State for Illegal Immigration, Crime, Policing and Fire
Incumbent
Assumed office
19 July 2024
LeaderRishi Sunak
Kemi Badenoch
Preceded byAlex Norris
Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
23 July 2025
Leader
In office
9 July 2022 – 19 August 2024
LeaderBoris Johnson
Liz Truss
Rishi Sunak
Member of Parliament
for Stockton West
Stockton South (2019–2024)
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 December 2019
Preceded byPaul Williams
Majority2,139 (4.4%)
Member of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council for Hartburn
In office
May 2015 – April 2021
Serving with Lynn Hall
Preceded byKen Lupton
Succeeded byNiall Innes
Personal details
Born (1983-09-24) 24 September 1983 (age 42)
Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England
PartyConservative
Teesside University
Websitemattvickers.co.uk

Prior to the boundary changes, he had previously been the MP for Stockton South from 12 December 2019 to 30 May 2024.[3]

Early life

edit

Vickers was born in the University Hospital of North Tees to Hilary and Alexander Vickers, a hairdresser and builder.[4] He grew up in Stockton-on-Tees and has three brothers.[5] He studied law and business management at Teesside University,[6] and later studied at the University of Law. Vickers previously worked at Woolworths and Home Bargains including in a management role.[7][8][9]

Local political career

edit

Vickers stood for election in the Norton West ward on the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council in 2007 and 2011 losing to Labour Party candidates Ann and Dick Cains[10] and David and Norma Wilburn respectively.[11] In 2015 he stood for election in the Hartburn ward and became a councillor and leader of the Conservative group on the council from May 2015 until April 2021, when he stood down forcing a by-election.[12]

Vickers stood as the Conservative candidate for Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner in 2016 losing to Barry Coppinger after the second preference votes were counted with a 37.9% vote share.[13][14]

After being elected an MP in 2019, Vickers remained as a councillor but donated his expenses to charity.[15]

Parliamentary career

edit

In government: first term (2019–2024)

edit

Vickers was elected as MP for Stockton South at the 2019 general election with a majority of 5,260. The seat had previously been held by Labour's Paul Williams.[16] He has served on a number of House of Commons Select Committees, including the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee,[17] the Home Affairs Select Committee, the Justice Select Committee, the Petitions Committee and the Committee on the Future Relationship with the European Union Committee.[17]

In June 2022, Vickers was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Office ministerial team, alongside Luke Evans.[18] A month later, he was promoted to Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party,[19] serving in the role until 2024. Following the 2024 General Election, Vickers was appointed Shadow Shadow Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire.[20]

In Parliament, Matt Vickers has served as the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Retail.[21] In 2023, Vickers led a campaign with the backing of over 39 other MPs to ask the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to extend 75% Business Rates Relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.[22]

Vickers has campaigned for the protection of hedgehogs.[23]

Vickers has campaigned on protection for shop workers and retail staff from assault, including campaigning to make assaulting a retail worker to be made a standalone criminal offence.[24]

On 19 November 2020, Vickers backed the home secretary, Priti Patel, after a Cabinet Office inquiry found evidence that Patel had breached the ministerial code following bullying allegations, publicly supporting Patel: "[Patel] is one of the most hardworking Home Secretaries this country has had."[25]

On 27 September 2021, Vickers wrote a letter to the House of Commons director of catering requesting that the Teesside dish the chicken Parmo be added to the menu. After a successful campaign, the Parmo was added to the menu for a short period of time.[26]

In June 2022, during the vote of no confidence in the Conservative Party leadership of Boris Johnson, Vickers publicly supported Johnson.[27]

Vickers led a debate in the House of Commons for tougher measures against off-road bikes and other anti-social behaviour in Stockton in July 2023 and continues to advocate for cooperation between local police and his constituents.[28][29]

In opposition: 2nd term (2024– )

edit

In the 2024 general election, he was elected for Stockton West as the only Conservative MP in North East England.[30]

In August 2024, Vickers resigned as deputy chairman of the Conservative party in order to back Robert Jenrick in the 2024 Conservative Party leadership election.[31] Vickers backed Rishi Sunak in the previous two Conservative leadership elections in 2022.[32]

Following the 2024 Conservative Party leadership election, Vickers was appointed as Shadow Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire. In April 2025, Vickers gained the additional role of Shadow Minister of State for Illegal Immigration. In Kemi Badenoch's 2025 British shadow cabinet reshuffle, Vickers was promoted to the role of Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, whilst retaining his previous shadow ministerial responsibilities.

Electoral history

edit
General election 2019: Stockton South[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Matt Vickers 27,764 50.7 +3.9
Labour Paul Williams 22,504 41.1 −7.4
Liberal Democrats Brendan Devlin 2,338 4.3 +2.5
Brexit Party John Prescott[34] 2,196 4.0 New
Majority 5,260 9.6 N/A
Turnout 54,802 71.3 +0.1
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +5.6
General election 2024: Stockton West[35][36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Matt Vickers 20,372 41.9 −14.6
Labour Joe Dancey 18,233 37.5 +3.6
Reform Stephen Matthews 6,833 14.0 +9.3
Green Anna-Maria Toms 1,477 3.0 +2.5
Liberal Democrats Nigel Boddy 1,203 2.5 −1.9
Independent Mohammed Zaroof 263 0.5 N/A
Independent Vivek Chhabra 108 0.2 N/A
Independent Niko Omilana 106 0.2 N/A
Independents for Direct Democracy Monty Brack 45 0.1 N/A
Majority 2,139 4.4
Turnout 48,640 69.8
Conservative hold Swing -9.1%

References

edit
  1. ↑ "Members Sworn". UK Parliament. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  2. ↑ Brunskill, Ian (19 March 2020). The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election. HarperCollins Publishers Limited. p. 342. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1. OCLC 1129682574.
  3. ↑ Whitfield, Graeme (29 April 2025). "Stockton MP Matt Vickers takes on immigration role for Conservatives". Teesside Live. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  4. ↑ "Matt Vickers". Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  5. ↑ GB News (2 November 2021). The Real Me: Matt Vickers, MP for Stockton South. YouTube. Event occurs at 00:33.
  6. ↑ "Teesside University | 🎓 Always good to visit my former uni: Teesside University. It has gone through some big changes since my time there, ready to nurture and provide the... | By Matt Vickers MP | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  7. ↑ Brown, Mike (13 December 2019). "Who is Matt Vickers? Meet the councillor and Brexiteer who's the new MP for Stockton South". Teesside Live. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  8. ↑ Hill, Henry (2 November 2018). "Matthew Vickers selected for Stockton South". Conservative Home. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  9. ↑ Courtez, Jack (9 June 2021). "Conservative MP calls on government to back down and support new laws to protect shop workers". betterRetailing. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  10. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project - 2007 - Stockton-on-Tees". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  11. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project - 2011 - Stockton-on-Tees". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  12. ↑ Metcalfe, Alex (10 March 2021). "Teesside MP Matt Vickers to step down from role as councillor". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  13. ↑ "Barry Coppinger re-elected as Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner". BBC News. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  14. ↑ "Barry Coppinger re-elected as Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner". BBC News. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  15. ↑ Nolan, Laura (19 August 2020). "MP speaks on decision to remain as a local councillor after criticism". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  16. ↑ "Stockton South parliamentary constituency – Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  17. 1 2 "Parliamentary career for Matt Vickers". UK Parliament. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  18. ↑ Heale, James [@JAHeale] (13 June 2022). "-Luke Evans and Matt Vickers to the Home Office team" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 June 2022 – via Twitter.
  19. ↑ Larman, Connor (12 July 2022). "Stockton MP Matt Vickers 'delighted' to be appointed deputy chairman of Conservative Party". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  20. ↑ "Conservative Party announces interim Opposition Front Bench". policymogul.com. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  21. ↑ Jahshan, Elias (2 September 2020). "Cross party parliamentary group formed to back retail industry". Retail Gazette. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  22. ↑ Lightfoot, Gareth (21 November 2023). "Business owners welcome MP's call for government to continue help with rates to avoid 'cliff edge'". Teesside Live. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  23. ↑ Joyner, Lisa (12 July 2021). "Hedgehogs need greater legal protection to stop people selling them, says MP". Country Living. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  24. ↑ "Prime Minister launches retail crime crackdown". GOV.UK. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  25. ↑ Scott, Jim (20 November 2020). "North-East MPs defend Priti Patel amid allegations of bullying". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  26. ↑ Dawson, Kirsty (27 September 2021). "Teesside MP calls for Parmos to be served in Parliament – but not everyone is impressed". Teesside Live. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  27. ↑ "Full list: the Tory MPs backing Boris Johnson". The Spectator. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  28. ↑ "Antisocial Behaviour and Off-road Bikes". Hansard. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  29. ↑ Lightfoot, Gareth (13 July 2023). "MP Matt Vickers leads off-road bikes debate in Parliament". Teesside Gazette. Teesside Live. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  30. ↑ "General election: Matt Vickers re-elected as last Conservative MP standing on Teesside". Yahoo News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  31. ↑ Baker, Tim (19 August 2024). "Tory deputy chair resigns to back Robert Jenrick in Conservative leadership race". Sky News. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  32. ↑ Maidment, Jack (19 August 2024). "Tory deputy chairman quits to back Jenrick for leadership". Telegraph. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  33. ↑ "Stockton South Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  34. ↑ Not the Labour member of the House of Lords
  35. ↑ "Stockton North and West 2024 Parliamentary Election Results". Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  36. ↑ "Stockton West results". BBC News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
edit
  • Profile on OpenSanctions, an open database of sanctions and persons of interest


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matt_Vickers&oldid=1350312064"