Christian Wakeford


Christian Wakeford is a British Conservative Party politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for Bury South since the 2019 general election.

Background

Wakeford studied Politics at Lancaster University and Chemistry with the Open University.

Political career

Prior to his election as MP Wakeford has been a Councillor for Barrowford in Nelson, Lancashire and Leader of the Conservative group on Pendle Borough Council. He also sits on Lancashire County Council for the Pendle Hill division.
In May 2020 Christian shaved his head for local charity FED Manchester raising £1775

Expenses Row

Wakeford came under fire in June 2020, when it was revealed he had failed to resign as Councillor for Pendle Hill, Lancashire, after his election to Parliament, a role which brings an annual allowance of £10,675. Wakeford's office claimed that the failure to stand down was due to the cancellation of local elections, caused by the Covid pandemic, though a fellow Councillor dismissed this excuse, citing a comparable case in Chorley Council, where an incumbent stepped down and no by-election was held, with other colleagues standing in. Prior to the Covid-19 Lockdown, but after his election to Westminster, Wakeford also served as Chair of the authority's education scrutiny committee, a position which attracts an additional allowance of £7,620. In June 2020, Wakeford's office confirmed he would be resigning from this role, some six months after his becoming an M.P. The row was highlighted in the 'Rotten Boroughs' section of satirical magazine Private Eye, issue 1525.