Sarah Atherton

Sarah Atherton
Official portrait, 2019
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families
In office
20 September 2022 – 27 October 2022
Prime MinisterLiz Truss
Preceded byLeo Docherty
Succeeded byAndrew Murrison
Member of Parliament
for Wrexham
In office
12 December 2019 – 30 May 2024
Preceded byIan Lucas
Succeeded byAndrew Ranger
Personal details
Born (1967-11-15) 15 November 1967 (age 56)
Chester, England
Political partyConservative
SpouseNick Corcoran
Children1
Alma materLiverpool University
Military service
Branch/service British Army
UnitIntelligence Corps

Sarah Elizabeth Atherton (born 15 November 1967) is a former British Conservative Party politician, who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wrexham between 2019 and 2024.[1][2] She served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families from September to October 2022.[3][4][5]

She was the first Conservative to represent the Wrexham constituency since its creation in 1918. In addition, Atherton was the first female MP elected to represent the seat, and became the first female Conservative MP elected to Westminster representing a Welsh constituency.[6]

Early life and career

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Atherton was born in Chester in 1967, the daughter of John Atherton from Chester and Evelyn Atherton (née Morgan / Stringer) from Caernarfon. She left Christleton High School in Chester, a local comprehensive school, at the age of 16.[2]

Atherton joined the army, serving in the Intelligence Corps, before training at Bangor University and becoming a Registered General Nurse. She also studied at Manchester Metropolitan University, receiving a BSc (Hons) in Community Health (Specialist District Nurse), and at the University of Liverpool, where she obtained a Masters in Social Work.[2]

Atherton has worked as a nurse, district nurse and social worker. In addition, she was briefly a partner in a micro brewery business based on Wrexham Industrial Estate.[7][8] Prior to being elected as the Member of Parliament for Wrexham, she served on Gresford Community Council. She is a member of the Royal British Legion.[2]

Parliamentary career

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Sarah Atherton was elected as the Member of Parliament for Wrexham in December 2019. She became the first Conservative to represent the constituency since its inception in 1918, turning a Labour majority of 1,832 into a Conservative majority of 2,131.[9] Atherton is the first woman to represent Wrexham but also the first female Conservative MP elected to Westminster from a Welsh constituency.[10] Additionally, she holds the distinction of being the first female MP with a regular military background.[11]

Atherton was a member of the Defence Select Committee, backing a report into the experiences of women in the armed forces.[12] She was also a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Veterans, serving as Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Veterans,[13] as well as contributing to also contributes to other defence-focused APPGs, such as for the Armed Forces and the Armed Forces Covenant. Atherton also served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families) at the Ministry of Defence from 20 September 2022 to 27 October 2022.[14]

Upon her election, Atherton pushed to elevate the image of Wrexham, such as in helping to contribute to Wrexham being awarded city status during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.[15], and in pushing for Wrexham to be shortlisted for the UK's City of Culture 2025.[16]

She also served as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart, in February 2020, encouraging discussion on handling cases of sexual abuse within the armed forces in civilian courts.[17]

Atherton was criticised on social media for promoting the re-opening of a McDonald's outlet in Wrexham on her Twitter account, citing childhood obesity and small independent businesses which require help, defending her support with the claim that it was locally franchised and actively involved in community engagement programmes.[18] In August 2020, Atherton suggested on Twitter that the army could be a solution to prevent migrants crossing the English Channel. This proposal received critical feedback from immigration law specialists.[19]

Voting record

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In January 2020, Atherton voted, with the majority of MPs, against an Opposition amendment, "Proportional Representation to Elect MPs in the House of Commons", on the subject of electoral reform and PR.[20][better source needed]

In February 2020, Atherton voted with the majority of MPs against an Opposition motion on "proper funding of public services along with robust action against tax avoidance and evasion".[21] In the same month she voted with the majority of MPs against an Opposition motion on "a plan to eliminate a substantial majority of transport emissions by 2030".[22][better source needed]

In July 2020, Atherton voted with the majority of MPs against a Green Party amendment to the Trade Bill, which the proposer said "would aim to protect the NHS and publicly funded health and care services in other parts of the UK from any form of control from outside the UK".[23]

Personal life

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In 2014, Atherton married Nicholas John Daniel Corcoran. She has a son. Her recreations are listed in Who's Who as "lover of real ale, sailing, ski-ing, family, countryside, passionate about Wales".[2]

References

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  1. ^ Mosalski, Ruth (13 December 2019). "General Election 2019 result for Wrexham". walesonline. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Atherton, Sarah Elizabeth, (born 15 Nov. 1967), MP (C) Wrexham, since 2019". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 2020. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u294108. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Ministerial Appointments: September 2022". GOV.UK. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Who is Sarah Atherton? The Army veteran appointed defence minister". Forces Network. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  6. ^ Randall, Liam. "Sarah Atherton: Wrexham elects Conservative MP for first time in history". Leader Live. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Dolphin trainer among first Welsh female Tory MPs". BBC News. 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  8. ^ "About Sarah". Sarah Atherton. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  9. ^ "General election 2019: First female Tory MP wins Wrexham". BBC News. 13 December 2019.
  10. ^ Clements, Laura (15 December 2019). "The three female Welsh MPs who made history at the election". Wales Online.
  11. ^ "Who is Sarah Atherton? The Army veteran appointed defence minister". Forces Network. 22 September 2022.
  12. ^ Atherton, Sarah. "Report: Protecting Those Who Protect Us: Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life". Parliament UK. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  13. ^ "APPG Veterans". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Sarah Atherton MP". GOV.UK.
  15. ^ "'City status is a huge achievement for Wrexham'". The Leader. 24 May 2022.
  16. ^ "Wrexham a step closer to being crowned UK City of Culture 2025 as it makes the final four". ITV. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Sexual abuse in the armed forces should not be prosecuted by the military". The Times. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Wrexham MP slammed for promoting McDonalds when local independent businesses are struggling". Leader Live. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  19. ^ "MP's call for Army on migrant crossings criticised". BBC News. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  20. ^ "Queen's Speech — Programme for Government — Proportional Representation to Elect MPs". They Work For You. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Proper Funding of Public Services — Tax Avoidance and Evasion". They Work For You. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  22. ^ "Transport — Eliminate Substantial Majority of Emissions by 2030". They Work For You. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  23. ^ "Trade Bill". The Public Whip.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Wrexham
2019–2024 		Succeeded by
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