Stephen Lloyd
Stephen Anthony Christopher Lloyd (born 15 June 1957) is a British Liberal Democrat politician who was twice Member of Parliament (MP) for the seat of Eastbourne.
Stephen Lloyd | |
|---|---|
Lloyd in 2019 | |
| Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Work and Pensions | |
| In office 16 June 2017 – 6 December 2018 | |
| Leader | Tim Farron Vince Cable |
| Preceded by | Baroness Bakewell |
| Succeeded by | Christine Jardine |
| Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change | |
| In office 9 January 2014 – 12 December 2014 | |
| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Steve Gilbert |
| Succeeded by | Paul Maynard |
| Member of Parliament for Eastbourne | |
| In office 8 June 2017 – 6 November 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Caroline Ansell |
| Succeeded by | Caroline Ansell |
| In office 6 May 2010 – 30 March 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Nigel Waterson |
| Succeeded by | Caroline Ansell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 June 1957 Mombasa, Kenya Colony |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Parliamentary affiliation: Independent (2018–2019) Liberal Democrats (until 2018, 2019–) Party membership: Liberal Democrats |
| Domestic partner | Cherine Maskill (2003–present) |
| Education | St. George's College, Weybridge |
| Occupation | Business Development Director |
Born in Kenya, he was privately educated in Surrey, before working first as a commodity broker and then in business development roles. He became resident in his constituency before (and remained so since) his 2005 candidature and became its MP, a predominantly single-town seat by population, at various times from 2010.
First elected in the 2010 general election, he served for all five years of the 2010–2015 UK parliament and supported the Cameron–Clegg coalition. Having lost his seat to the Conservative candidate Caroline Ansell in the 2015 general election, Lloyd went on to regain it in 2017 and served as the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Work and Pensions.
On 6 December 2018, Lloyd resigned the Liberal Democrat whip, saying that his party's position on Brexit was inconsistent with his pledge to his constituency that he would "respect the result" of the 2016 EU referendum. Until 29 October 2019, Lloyd sat in the House of Commons as an Independent, remaining a member of the Liberal Democrat party, but had the whip restored following the announcement of the general election, and the 'clean-slate' opportunity to be on the ballot paper as a committed remainer. He was again defeated by Caroline Ansell at the 2019 general election.