Karen Elizabeth Lumley (28 March 1964 – 25 May 2023) was a British Conservative politician and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Redditch in Worcestershire from 2010 to 2017.[1][2]
Karen Lumley | |
|---|---|
 Lumley in 2010 | |
| Member of Parliament for Redditch | |
| In office 6 May 2010 – 3 May 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Jacqui Smith |
| Succeeded by | Rachel Maclean |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 March 1964 Barnsley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 25 May 2023 (aged 59) |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Richard Lumley (m. 1984) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education |
|
Early life and education
editShe was born Karen Elizabeth Allott in Barnsley on 28 March 1964, to Derek and Sylvia Allott. She grew up in the county of Warwickshire, in the town of Rugby. Her early education was at the Rugby High School for Girls, and subsequently the East Warwickshire College.[3][4]
Political career
editLumley was the deputy chair of the Welsh Young Conservatives from 1986 to 1987, and the group leader of the district of Wrexham Maelor from 1991 to 1996. She also served on Clwyd County Council between 1993 and 1996, and on Redditch Borough Council from 2001 to 2003.[5]
Lumley unsuccessfully contested the Delyn constituency in 1997 and at National Assembly level in 1999. In both the general elections of 2001 and 2005, she unsuccessfully contested the constituency of Redditch before gaining the seat at the general election of 2010, defeating the former Labour Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.[5][6]
Lumley was one of 175 MPs to vote against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 in March 2013, which legalised same sex marriage in England and Wales.[7]
Lumley had said that while she supported civil partnerships, she had felt that the bill would redefine the meaning of marriage and that her decision would be supported by the majority of her constituents.[8] She held her seat in the election of May 2015.[9]
Lumley indicated her support for voting to leave the European Union in the EU Referendum in March 2016. She commented that the move would regain the sovereignty of the United Kingdom.[10]
In the House of Commons Lumley sat on the Finance Committee as of July 2015. She had previously been part of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee and the Transport Select Committee.[5][9][11] She was also a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department of Health.[12]
Lumley did not seek re-election as an MP at the general election of 2017 due to ill health.[2]
Personal life and death
editAfter becoming an MP, she lived in the Brockhill area of Redditch. She was married to Richard Lumley, a geologist, and had two children.[13]
Lumley died on 25 May 2023, at the age of 59.[14]
References
edit- ^ ""No. 59418". The London Gazette. 13 May 2010. p. 8746.
- ^ a b Crawford, Ross (28 April 2017). "Karen Lumley MP not to defend Redditch parliamentary seat". Redditch Standard. Archived from the original on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
- ^ "Karen Lumley MP". BBC Democracy Live. BBC. 5 June 2010. Archived from the original on 8 January 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
- ^ Obituaries (28 May 2023). "Karen Lumley, Tory MP for Redditch who took a principled stand on same-sex marriage and Brexit – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ a b c "Karen Lumley MP". parliament.uk. 15 May 2012. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012.
- ^ Britten, Nick (7 May 2010). "General Election 2010: Jacqui Smith defeated in Redditch". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 May 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ "MP-by-MP: Gay marriage vote". bbc.co.uk. 5 February 2013. Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ "Redditch's MP votes against gay marriage bill". Redditch Advertiser. 6 February 2013. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Karen Lumley MP". parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
- ^ "Redditch MP Karen Lumley joins "Brexit" camp". Redditch Advertiser. 23 February 2016. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ "Welsh Affairs Committee: Membership". www.parliament.uk. 9 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 November 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ^ Sharpe, Liz (20 November 2015). "'These are essential skills' says Redditch MP Karen Lumley at St Johns Ambulance's Everyday Heroes Awards". Redditch Advertiser. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ "About Karen: Personal". Tellkaren.com. 7 March 2016. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ Osborne, Ashleigh (25 May 2023). "Former MP Karen Lumley has died". Redditch Standard. Retrieved 25 May 2023.