James Brokenshire

James Peter Brokenshire (8 January 1968 – 7 October 2021) was a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in Theresa May's cabinet as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 2016 to 2018 and then as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government from 2018 to 2019. He also served as a minister at the Home Office under David Cameron and Boris Johnson. Brokenshire was Member of Parliament (MP) for Hornchurch from 2005 to 2010, and for Old Bexley and Sidcup from 2010 until his death in 2021.

The Right Honourable James Brokenshire
Official portrait, 2020
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
In office 30 April 2018 – 24 July 2019
Prime Minister	Theresa May
Preceded by	Sajid Javid
Succeeded by	Robert Jenrick
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
In office 14 July 2016 – 8 January 2018
Prime Minister	Theresa May
Preceded by	Theresa Villiers
Succeeded by	Karen Bradley
Junior ministerial offices Minister of State for Security^[a] In office 13 February 2020 – 7 July 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson Preceded by Brandon Lewis Succeeded by Damian Hinds In office 11 May 2011 – 14 July 2016 Serving with John Hayes (2015–16) Prime Minister David Cameron Preceded by The Baroness Neville-Jones Succeeded by Ben Wallace Minister of State for Immigration In office 8 February 2014 – 14 July 2016 Prime Minister David Cameron Preceded by Mark Harper Succeeded by Robert Goodwill Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Crime Reduction In office 11 May 2010 – 11 May 2011 Prime Minister David Cameron Preceded by Alan Campbell Succeeded by The Baroness Browning
Parliamentary offices Member of Parliament for Old Bexley and Sidcup In office 6 May 2010 – 7 October 2021 Preceded by Derek Conway Succeeded by Louie French Member of Parliament for Hornchurch In office 5 May 2005 – 12 April 2010 Preceded by John Cryer Succeeded by Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	James Peter Brokenshire (1968-01-08)8 January 1968 Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England
Died	7 October 2021(2021-10-07) (aged 53) Dartford, Kent, England
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Cathrine Anne Mamelok ​ ​ (m. 1999)​
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Exeter London Guildhall University
Website	Official website

Born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, Brokenshire studied law at the University of Exeter before beginning work with a large international law firm. Deciding on a career in politics, he stood successfully as the Conservative candidate for the parliamentary constituency of Hornchurch in the 2005 general election. When his constituency was to be abolished in the boundary changes, he sought out another constituency to represent, failing to be selected in six until being selected for Old Bexley and Sidcup. He was elected MP for the seat in 2010.

In David Cameron's first government, Brokenshire was initially Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Crime Reduction; in May 2011, he was transferred to the position of Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Crime and Security. He oversaw the closure and privatisation of the Forensic Science Service and championed the Modern Slavery Bill. He served as Minister for Security and Immigration at the Home Office from 2014 to 2016. In July 2016, he was appointed Northern Ireland Secretary in Theresa May's new cabinet. He resigned in January 2018 on health grounds and was replaced by Karen Bradley. In April 2018, he was appointed Communities Secretary, following Sajid Javid's appointment as Home Secretary as a result of Amber Rudd's resignation. In 2020 he was appointed by Boris Johnson as Minister of State for Security at the Home Office. He stepped down from this post in July 2021 due to lung cancer and died in October of the same year.

Early life and career

James Peter Brokenshire^[1] was born on 8 January 1968,^[2] in Southend-on-Sea, Essex.^[3] His father was a council chief executive.^[4]

He was educated at Davenant Foundation Grammar School in Loughton and then at the Cambridge Centre for Sixth-form Studies.^[3] After this he studied Law at the University of Exeter.^[3]

Brokenshire subsequently worked at the international law firm Jones Day. In this position, he advised on company law, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance transactions.^[3][b]

Political career

MP for Hornchurch

Brokenshire was elected at the 2005 general election to the parliamentary constituency of Hornchurch, defeating the Labour candidate and incumbent member John Cryer by 480 votes.^[6] The election itself resulted in a third successive term for Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Labour government. From 2005 to 2006, Brokenshire was a member of the House of Commons Constitutional Affairs Select Committee.^[3] From 2006 to 2010, he then served as the Shadow Minister for Crime Reduction.^[3]

Brokenshire knew that his constituency, Hornchurch, would be dissolved for the next election. In November 2006, he applied for selection as the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Witham in Essex, but was defeated by Priti Patel.^[7] He simultaneously campaigned to be selected as Conservative candidate for the constituency of Hornchurch and Upminster, but in March 2007 was defeated there by Angela Watkinson.^[8]

He next applied for Gillingham and Rainham in July 2007, Grantham and Stamford in October 2007, North East Cambridgeshire in January 2008, and Maidstone and The Weald later that same month. He was unsuccessful in all of these attempts.^[9]

MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup

 

Old Bexley and Sidcup in Greater London

Derek Conway, the member for the Conservative safe seat of Old Bexley and Sidcup in southeast London, was embroiled in an expenses scandal and resigned, after which Brokenshire put his name forward as a potential replacement. His competitors for the seat were Rebecca Harris, Katie Lindsay, and Julia Manning,^[10] and he was successful in gaining the selection for the seat in June 2008.^[11] He was described as a "serial carpetbagger" by a local single issue party, Independents to Save Queen Mary's Hospital.^[9]

In the 2010 general election, Brokenshire was elected for Old Bexley and Sidcup with 24,625 votes (53.93%), beating the Labour candidate Rick Everitt, in second place with 8,768 votes (19.21%). Voter turnout was 69.13%.^[2][12] Upon victory, Brokenshire announced that his priority would be to prevent the proposed closure of accident and emergency services at local Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup.^[12]

Parliamentary Under Secretary for Crime Reduction

 

Official portrait, 2010

With no party gaining an overall majority in the House of Commons, the 2010 election resulted in the formation of a coalition government consisting of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, led by Conservative prime minister David Cameron. The new prime minister appointed Brokenshire as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Crime Reduction in the Home Office.^[3] One of his first moves was to initiate the closing of the UK's Forensic Science Service; it had been making operational losses of £2 million a month and was predicted to go into administration in early 2011. Brokenshire stated his desire that there would be "no continuing state interest in a forensics provider by March 2012", with the service's role being taken on by private enterprise. Critics asserted that this move would result in the loss of hundreds of jobs and the degradation of forensic research and criminal justice, with an MPs enquiry chaired by Labour MP Andrew Miller criticising how the closure had been overseen.^[13][14][15]

In August 2010, Brokenshire called for the government to adopt a new approach to the "war on drugs" in Britain; he argued that they should focus on getting addicts off drugs rather than minimising the effects of drug use as the preceding Labour government had focused on.^[16]

Parliamentary Under Secretary for Crime and Security

In May 2011, Brokenshire's Home Office brief was changed from Crime Reduction to Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Crime and Security following the resignation of Baroness Neville-Jones. However, he was not appointed to the more senior rank of Minister of State.^[17] In this position, he was responsible for updating plans to tackle terror content online. This move was seen as controversial by broadband companies and freedom of speech groups.^[18]

In the buildup to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, he stated his belief that the games would be a "great success", largely due to the government's security measures. He also commented that "I think it will bring Bexley together and the torch relay will be a fantastic event for the community ... I'm quite sure it will have a lasting impression."^[19]

In October 2013, Brokenshire published a draft of a proposed Modern Slavery Bill,^[20] designed to tackle slavery in the UK. He said the bill will "send the strongest possible message to criminals that if you are involved in this disgusting trade in human beings, you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted and you will be locked up."^[21] Experts in the issue were sceptical of the bill, believing that it had many shortcomings and was mainly designed to enhance Theresa May's career.^[22] The bill was subsequently enacted as the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

In January 2014, Brokenshire called on National Rail to improve its services after statistics were published revealing that rail services across Bexley Borough had worsened throughout 2013.^[23]

Minister of State for Security and Immigration (1st term)

Brokenshire assumed the enlarged role of Minister for Security and Immigration on 8 February 2014 following the resignation of Mark Harper.^[24]

Northern Ireland Secretary

 

Official portrait, 2017

In July 2016, under Theresa May's new cabinet, Brokenshire was appointed the Northern Ireland Secretary.^[25] On 16 January 2017, the Northern Ireland Executive collapsed following the resignation of Martin McGuinness as deputy First Minister one week earlier in protest of the DUP's handling of the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal. Brokenshire, as Northern Ireland Secretary, temporarily assumed the powers of the Executive and called for snap elections for the Northern Ireland Assembly, which took place on 2 March 2017.^[26]

Brokenshire's comments in The Sunday Telegraph of 28 January 2017 sparked consternation in Northern Ireland:

Writing in the Telegraph, James Brokenshire, the Northern Ireland Secretary, concedes there is an apparent "imbalance" that has led to a "disproportionate" focus on criminal inquiries involving former soldiers. "I am clear the current system is not working and we are in danger of seeing the past rewritten."^[27][28]

Following a question from MP Sylvia Hermon, Brokenshire offered his "clear and unequivocal" support for the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Sir Declan Morgan.^[29] Sir Declan had earlier criticised Brokenshire for refusing funding for cases and thereby adding to case backlogs^[30] when Brokenshire refused to grant £10 million to pay for an inquest into the deaths of eleven civilians shot dead by British forces in 1971 in the Ballymurphy massacre.^[31]

Brian Feeney in The Irish News accused Brokenshire of "ineptitude ... [though] no one would give him the credit of even being aware of the coincidence of the date he chose, when British soldiers killed most innocent victims in Ireland." (Bloody Sunday),^[32] while the Belfast Telegraph editorial accused the minister of "playing a dangerous game".^[33]

Brokenshire resigned as Northern Ireland Secretary on 8 January 2018 on health grounds due to an upcoming lung operation.^[34] On 20 January 2018, it was announced that he had the operation and had been discharged from hospital.^[35]

In September 2019, Brokenshire said that his best advice to people becoming Northern Ireland Secretary was to "get yourself a history book and read it."^[36]

Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary

In April 2018, Brokenshire was appointed Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government following Sajid Javid's appointment as Home Secretary in the light of Amber Rudd's resignation after the Windrush scandal. After his appointment, Brokenshire said he was "looking forward to taking the Government's agenda forward especially on building the homes our country needs".^[37] In this role, Brokenshire was responsible for regional growth, local government, housing, planning, rough sleeping, building safety and communities. Hours after taking on the new role, Brokenshire appeared in Parliament and stated, after a question from Andrew Gwynne (Labour's shadow communities secretary), that "local government is in my blood".^[38]

He piloted the Tenant Fees Act (2019) through Parliament, which, among other regulations, caps the deposit a landlord or a letting agency may take from a new tenant and largely abolishes administration fees.^[39]

In April 2019, Brokenshire sacked philosopher Sir Roger Scruton from his unpaid role as chair of the British government's "Building Better, Building Beautiful" commission. The dismissal followed the publication of an interview with Scruton by George Eaton in the New Statesman magazine, in which Eaton had suggested that Scruton had made unsavoury remarks.^[40] A series of online comments from Eaton suggested that he had set out to present Scruton, a former contributor to the New Statesman, in a poor light.^[41] Following a campaign from Douglas Murray of The Spectator, the tapes of the interview were eventually leaked, which prompted the New Statesman to publish a correction of its original article and an apology.^[42] Brokenshire apologised to Scruton for his sacking and invited him to rejoin the commission.^[43]

Minister of State for Security (2nd term)

In 2020, Brokenshire returned to government as the Minister for Security. On 11 January 2021, he announced that he would take a leave of absence to prepare for a cancer operation.^[44]

On 7 July 2021, Brokenshire tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, stating his recovery from lung cancer was "taking longer than expected".^[45]

Political views

 

Official portrait, 2015

On Brexit, Brokenshire was believed to have voted to remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum,^[46] but by April 2019, his position on the "soft Brexit v no deal" debate was described by reporters in The Guardian as unclear.^[47]

Personal life

Brokenshire married Cathrine Anne Mamelok in 1999.^[c] They had two daughters and a son.^[3]

He had expressed support for the charity Cancer Research UK and in March 2013 publicly backed their Cell Slider website, calling on all of his constituents to get involved in the initiative.^[48]

Illness and death

In December 2017, Brokenshire noted blood in his cough, and testing disclosed early-stage lung cancer. The following month, he had the upper lobe of his right lung removed at Guy's Hospital and returned to Parliament five weeks later. Brokenshire said he wanted to end the social stigma around lung cancer because he, like 15% of people with the disease, had never smoked.^[49]

In January 2021, he took a leave of absence from his ministerial post in preparation for a pneumonectomy.^[44] On 3 October 2021, Brokenshire was admitted to Darent Valley Hospital in Kent because of a further deterioration in his condition; he died there on 7 October, aged 53.^[50]

Many political figures, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer, memorialised him.^[51][52] The House of Commons held tributes to him on 20 October;^[53] his funeral took place the next day at St John the Evangelist Church in Bexley.^[54] Robert Buckland, Cressida Dick, Bob Neill, Priti Patel and Rishi Sunak were named as some of those in attendance. Former prime minister Theresa May gave a Bible reading.^[55]

Honours

He was sworn in as a member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council on 4 June 2015. This gave him the honorific title "The Right Honourable" for life.^[56]

Notes

1. Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Crime and Security (2011–2014)
2. His Who's Who entry says "Solicitor with Jones Day Gouldens, 1991–2005".^[5]
3. Marriage – information from Who's Who.^[5]

References

1. "No. 61961". The London Gazette. 19 June 2017. p. 11776.
2. . Democracy Live. BBC. 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014.
3. . HuffPost. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014.
4. Cusack, Rob (30 April 2018). "The new communities secretary: What you need to know". Local Government Chronicle. from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2020. He is the son of Peter Brokenshire who, after five years as Epping Forest DC's chief executive, he became chief of Greenwich LBC and then joined the Audit Commission as a director...
5. "Brokenshire, Rt Hon. James (Peter)". Who's Who. A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
6. "Election 2005 result – Hornchurch". BBC News. 6 May 2005. from the original on 23 December 2006.
7. Carlin, Brendan (22 November 2006). "Tories pick British-Asian woman in safe seat". The Daily Telegraph. from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
8. "Angela Watkinson survives James Brokenshire's challenge". ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog. from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
9. "James Brokenshire – Serial Carpetbagger". Independents to Save Queen Mary's Hospital. Archived from the original on 21 January 2014.
10. . ConservativeHome. 29 June 2008. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
11. . ConservativeHome. 1 July 2008. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
12. Piper, Linda (7 May 2010). . Newshopper. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.
13. "Forensic Science Service to be wound up with hundreds of jobs lost". The Guardian. Press Association. 14 December 2014. from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
14. Johnson, Wesley (14 December 2010). "Forensic science service to be wound up". The Independent. from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
15. Rincon, Paul (4 July 2011). "Forensic Science Service closure plan criticised by MPs". BBC News. from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
16. "We need to be more ambitious in the war on drugs, says minister". The Guardian. Press Association. 23 August 2010. from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
17. Johnson, Wesley (12 May 2011). "James Brokenshire takes on security role". The Independent. from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
18. Garside, Juliette (27 November 2013). "Ministers will order ISPs to block terrorist and extremist websites". The Guardian. from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
19. "'Olympics will be a Success' says Old Bexley and Sidcup MP James Brokenshire". Newshopper. 19 December 2011. from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
20. "Draft Modern Slavery Bill". UK Parliament. from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
21. Wood, Helois (18 October 2013). "Old Bexley and Sidcup MP James Brokenshire announces plans to help end human trafficking". Newshopper. from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
22. Dugan, Emily (14 December 2013). "Government's Modern Slavery Bill will 'fail victims and spare criminals'". The Independent. from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
23. Wood, Heloise (14 January 2014). "Old Bexley and Sidcup MP calls for Network Rail to make improvements". Newshopper. from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
24. "Details of ministerial appointments announced – News stories". gov.uk. 8 February 2014. from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
25. "James Brokenshire appointed Northern Ireland Secretary – PM's office". Reuters. 14 July 2016. from the original on 15 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
26. "Elections to be held in NI on 2 March". BBC News. 16 January 2017. from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
27. Mendick, Robert (28 January 2017). "British soldiers are being failed by Troubles inquiry, Northern Ireland Secretary concedes". The Daily Telegraph. from the original on 24 December 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
28. Brokenshire, James (28 January 2017). "We must not allow the past to be rewritten in Northern Ireland". The Daily Telegraph. from the original on 24 December 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
29. "James Brokenshire offers 'clear and unequivocal' support for Lord Chief Justice". Belfast Telegraph. 1 February 2017. from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
30. "Sort out the funding for Troubles inquests, demands Lord Chief Justice". The Herald (Scotland). 5 September 2016. from the original on 25 September 2016.
31. "Relatives of Ballymurphy victims cut short 'terrible' meeting". The Irish Times. 19 September 2016. from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
32. Feeney, Brian (1 February 2017). "Brian Feeney: Brokenshire's legacy comments are a disgrace". The Irish News. from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
33. "Editor's Viewpoint: Brokenshire playing a dangerous game". Belfast Telegraph. 30 January 2017. from the original on 13 December 2017.
34. "James Brokenshire: Northern Ireland Secretary resigns". BBC News. 8 January 2018. from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
35. "James Brokenshire undergoes lung surgery". BBC News. 20 January 2018. from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
36. Brokenshire, James (24 September 2019). "Ministers Reflect" (Interview). Interviewed by Durrant, Tim; Lilly, Alice. Institute for Government. from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
37. Sandhu, Serina (30 April 2018). "Cabinet reshuffle: New roles for James Brokenshire and Penny Mordaunt". i. from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
38. "Local Government Funding". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 30 April 2018. from the original on 8 October 2021.
39. "James Brokenshire heralds new law protecting tenants from unfair letting fees". gov.uk (Press release). 12 February 2019. from the original on 13 February 2019.
40. Weaver, Matthew and Peter Walker (10 April 2019). "Government sacks Roger Scruton after remarks about Soros and Islamophobia". The Guardian. from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
41. "The Londoner: NS deputy editor in cooler over Scruton". Evening Standard. 26 April 2019. from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
42. Waterson, Jim (25 April 2019). "New Statesman and Spectator in dirty tricks row over Scruton tape". The Guardian. from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
43. Brokenshire, James (13 July 2019). "Full letter: James Brokenshire apologises to Roger Scruton". The Spectator. from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
44. "James Brokenshire to leave ministerial job for cancer operation". BBC News. 11 January 2021. from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
45. Morris, Sophie (7 July 2021). "James Brokenshire resigns as Home Office minister following 'longer than anticipated' recovery from lung cancer treatment". Sky News. from the original on 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
46. "EU vote: Where the cabinet and other MPs stand". BBC News. 22 June 2016. from the original on 15 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
47. Walker, Peter; Jessica Elgot; and Heather Stewart (2 April 2019). "Where do cabinet ministers stand on soft Brexit v no deal?". The Guardian. from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
48. MacFarlane, Tim (17 March 2013). "Brokenshire backs Cancer Research UK's Cell Slider website". Newshopper. from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
49. Kelso, Paul (24 February 2018). "James Brokenshire says lung cancer diagnosis took him to 'dark places'". Sky News. from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
50. Rawlinson, Kevin; Walker, Peter (8 October 2021). "Former Tory minister James Brokenshire dies aged 53". The Guardian. from the original on 13 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
51. "Former Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire dies, aged 53". BBC News. 8 October 2021. from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
52. "Tributes paid to Tory MP and ex-Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire". BBC News. 8 October 2021. from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
53. "MPs pay tribute to James Brokenshire MP". UK Parliament. 20 October 2021. from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
54. Arnold, Elizabeth; Keane, Daniel (21 October 2021). "James Brokenshire: Ministers and mourners pay their respects at funeral". Evening Standard. from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
55. "James Brokenshire: Chancellor and home secretary attend MP's funeral". BBC News. 21 October 2021. from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
56. "Privy Council appointment: James Brokenshire MP" (Press release). Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 4 June 2015. from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.

External links

• Official website
• Tribute to James Brokenshire, 1968–2021
• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
• Voting record at Public Whip
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
• Profile 16 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine on the Conservative Party website
• Guardian Unlimited Politics – Ask Aristotle: James Brokenshire MP

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by John Cryer	Member of Parliament for Hornchurch 2005–2010	Constituency abolished
Preceded by Derek Conway	Member of Parliament for Old Bexley and Sidcup 2010–2021	Succeeded by Louie French
Political offices
Preceded by Theresa Villiers	Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 2016–2018	Succeeded by Karen Bradley
Preceded by Sajid Javid	Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government 2018–2019	Succeeded by Robert Jenrick
Preceded by Brandon Lewis	Minister of State for Security 2019–2021	Succeeded by Damian Hinds