Greg Knight
Sir Gregory Knight (born 4 April 1949) is a British Conservative politician, musician, author, and advocate for historic vehicles who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for East Yorkshire from 2001 until his retirement in 2024, and previously represented Derby North from 1983 to 1997.[1][2][3] Knight's parliamentary career spanned over four decades, during which he held several government positions, including Government Deputy Chief Whip from 1993 to 1996, Minister of State for Industry from 1996 to 1997, and Vice Chamberlain of the Household from 2012 to 2013.[1][2] He also chaired the House of Commons Procedure Committee from 2005 to 2010 and was appointed to the Privy Council in 1995, receiving a knighthood in 2013 for political and public service.[1][2] Notably, Knight successfully sponsored multiple private member's bills that became law, including the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, which established guidelines for private parking operators, and the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill, increasing penalties for severe animal cruelty offences.[4][5] Beyond politics, Knight qualified as a solicitor in 1973 after studying at the College of Law, Guildford, and practiced until entering Parliament, later working as a business consultant.[1] He has pursued interests in music as a member of the parliamentary rock band MP4 and currently serves as President of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs, campaigning for policies supportive of vehicle preservation.[6][1]Early Life and Pre-Political Career
Education and Early Professional Experience
Knight was educated at Alderman Newton's Grammar School in Leicester before attending the College of Law in Guildford, qualifying as a solicitor in 1973.[1] Following qualification, he established and operated his own solicitor's practice for ten years, handling legal work until entering Parliament in 1983.[3]Entry into Conservative Politics
Knight entered Conservative politics as the party's candidate for the Derby North constituency in the lead-up to the 1983 United Kingdom general election. A qualified solicitor who had run his own practice specializing in entertainment and information technology law for a decade, Knight leveraged his professional background to campaign on local economic issues in a traditionally Labour-held seat.[7] [1] On 9 June 1983, Knight won the election with 21,398 votes, defeating Labour's incumbent Helen Jackson by a majority of 6,513 votes and becoming the first Conservative MP to represent Derby North since 1945.[8] [9] [7] This victory contributed to the Conservative Party's national landslide under Margaret Thatcher, which secured 397 seats and a majority of 144. Knight's success in flipping the seat highlighted his appeal in an industrial Midlands area amid Thatcher's emphasis on enterprise and union reform.[10]Parliamentary Career
First Term as MP for Derby North (1983–1997)
Knight was elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Derby North in the 1983 general election held on 9 June 1983, securing a gain from Labour in a constituency previously held by the party since its creation in 1950.[8] He retained the seat in the subsequent 1987 and 1992 general elections, representing the area until the 1997 election.[8] From 1983 to 1989, Knight served as a backbench MP, focusing on constituency matters in Derby, an industrial city with significant manufacturing interests including engineering and aerospace.[1] In July 1989, under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, he was appointed Assistant Government Whip at HM Treasury, a role he held until July 1990.[8] Following the leadership change to John Major, Knight advanced to Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury (a full whip position) from November 1990 to May 1993.[8] Knight's responsibilities escalated in June 1993 when he became Deputy Chief Whip and Treasurer of HM Household, serving until July 1996 and playing a key role in party discipline and government coordination during Major's administration.[8][1] In July 1996, he was promoted to Minister of State for Energy and Industry at the Department of Trade and Industry, where he oversaw policies related to industrial competitiveness and energy sector regulation until the government's defeat in the May 1997 general election, after which he lost Derby North to Labour candidate Bob Laxton.[8][1]Interlude and Return as MP for East Yorkshire (1997–2001 and 2001–2024)
Following his defeat in the Derby North constituency at the 1997 general election, where Labour's Bob Laxton secured the seat, Knight stepped down from Parliament.[11] During this interlude, he served as Vice Chairman of the Conservative Parliamentary Candidates Association from 1998 to 2001.[7] Knight was selected as the Conservative candidate for the newly created East Yorkshire constituency and won the seat in the 2001 general election on 7 June 2001, defeating Labour's Stephen Maughan by a majority of 4,373 votes.[8] [12] He retained the seat through six further general elections, including a 2019 majority of 22,787 votes over Labour.[3] Knight announced on 27 June 2023 that he would not contest the next election after 41 years in Parliament overall, citing a desire to retire at age 74.[10] His tenure as MP for East Yorkshire concluded with the dissolution of Parliament on 30 May 2024 ahead of the general election.[8] Throughout his 23-year representation of the constituency, which encompasses rural areas, coastal towns like Bridlington, and inland communities in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Knight emphasized local infrastructure and environmental concerns, including chairing the River Hull Advisory Board from 2016 to 2024 to enhance flood defenses following 2013–2015 inundations.[13]Ministerial and Whip Roles Across Governments
Knight served as a Government Whip, specifically as a Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury, from 1989 under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.[7] He was promoted to Deputy Chief Whip and Treasurer of HM Household on 7 June 1993 under Prime Minister John Major, holding this position until 22 July 1996.[14] In this role, Knight managed party discipline and voting coordination within the Conservative parliamentary majority during a period of internal divisions over European integration and economic policy.[3] Subsequently, Knight was appointed Minister of State for Industry at the Department of Trade and Industry on 23 July 1996, serving until the Conservative defeat on 1 May 1997.[15] In this capacity, he oversaw aspects of industrial policy, including support for manufacturing sectors amid challenges from globalization and post-recession recovery efforts.[16] After his return to Parliament in 2001 and following the 2010 Conservative-led coalition formation, Knight was reappointed to a whipping role as Vice-Chamberlain of HM Household on 6 September 2012 under Prime Minister David Cameron, a position he held until 7 October 2013.[8] This junior ministerial post involved maintaining attendance and enforcing party lines on votes, particularly during the implementation of austerity measures and welfare reforms.[1] No further whip or ministerial appointments occurred under subsequent Conservative leaders, as Knight focused on backbench and select committee duties thereafter.[17]| Period | Role | Government | Key Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–1993 | Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury (Whip) | Thatcher | Party discipline and vote management |
| 1993–1996 | Deputy Chief Whip and Treasurer of HM Household | Major | Senior whip duties amid party divisions |
| 1996–1997 | Minister of State for Industry (DTI) | Major | Industrial policy oversight |
| 2012–2013 | Vice-Chamberlain of HM Household (Whip) | Cameron | Attendance enforcement and coalition coordination |