Hubbry Logo
Matthew OffordMatthew OffordMain
Open search
Matthew Offord
Community hub
Matthew Offord
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Matthew Offord
Matthew Offord
Matthew Offord
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Matthew James Offord (born 3 September 1969)[2] is a British Conservative Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hendon in North London from 2010 to 2024. He was previously a member of the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa Governing Council.[3]

Key Information

Early life and education

[edit]

Offord was born on 3 September 1969 in Alton, Hampshire, England to Christopher and Hilda Offord.[2] His father was a builder.[4] He attended Amery Hill School and then studied Geography at Nottingham Trent University. He worked as a BBC political analyst.[5] Offord also obtained a master's degree in Environment, Culture and Society from Lancaster University in 2000, and a PhD in Geography from King's College London.[6][7]

Political career

[edit]

Offord stood as the Conservative candidate for Barnsley East and Mexborough in the 2001 general election. He came third in the seat behind the incumbent Labour MP Jeffrey Ennis and the Liberal Democrat candidate.[8] The following year, he was elected as a councillor for Hendon ward on the Barnet London Borough Council.[9] Offord was re-elected in 2006 and became the deputy leader of the council.[10]

In 2010, he was elected as MP for Hendon by a majority of 106 votes.[11] The seat had previously been held by Labour MP Andrew Dismore since 1997.[5] The following year, he was one of 81 Conservative MPs who rebelled against the government by voting for a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union.[12] Offord was one of 136 Conservative MPs to vote against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 which legalised same-sex marriage in England and Wales.[13] He voted against the Act as he felt that marriage should only between a man and a woman and that it could eventually lead to the legalisation of polygamy.[14] He was also one of 21 MPs to vote against LGBT-inclusive sex and relationship education from primary school.[15]

He was re-elected in the 2015 and 2017 general election.[16] In parliament, he has been a member of the Environmental Audit Select Committee since December 2012.[17] He is an officer of the Conservative Friends of Israel.[18] Offord supported Brexit in the 2016 UK EU membership referendum. He is a member of the European Research Group. Offord voted for then Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit withdrawal agreement in March 2019. He also voted against any referendum on a Brexit withdrawal agreement in the indicative votes on 27 March.[19] He supported Boris Johnson's bid to become Conservative Party leader in 2019, and after he became prime minister voted for his Brexit withdrawal agreement in October.[20][21]

In August 2022, Offord supported Liz Truss in the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election and Boris Johnson in the October 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.[22][23]

In March 2023, Offord was one of 22 Conservative MPs that voted against the Windsor Framework.[24] He announced in May 2023 that he would stand down at the 2024 United Kingdom general election, which was called for July 4, 2024.[25]

Personal life

[edit]

Offord married Claire Michelle Rowles in 2010.[2][26] She was a Conservative councillor for the Hungerford & Kintbury ward on West Berkshire Council and former solicitor.[27][28] He is a Christian.[4]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Matthew Offord

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Dr Matthew James Offord FRGS (born 3 September 1969) is a British Conservative Party politician who served as the for from 2010 until the constituency's dissolution in 2024. Educated at and before earning a PhD in from in 2012, Offord worked in , including roles at the , prior to his . In , he focused on constituency issues in , chaired All-Party Parliamentary Groups on , explosive threats, and illicit trade, and advocated for interests aligned with his district's diverse community, including strong support for with and counter-terrorism measures.

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

Matthew Offord was born on 3 September 1969 in Alton, Hampshire, England. He grew up in Alton, which his family regarded as their hometown. Public records provide limited details on his early family dynamics or specific formative experiences during childhood.

Academic qualifications and early career

Offord studied at before pursuing postgraduate education. He earned a degree in Environment, Culture and Society from in 2000. Offord subsequently completed a PhD in at , with research focused on the implementation of in rural areas. As a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS), Offord's geographical expertise included exploratory work in the , aligning with the society's emphasis on advancing geographical knowledge through fieldwork and scholarship. The FRGS fellowship, awarded to individuals demonstrating significant contributions to or related , underscores his academic grounding in spatial and policy-related analysis. Prior to his political involvement, Offord worked as a political analyst for the , providing analysis on political affairs based on his academic background in and . This role involved assessing policy impacts, drawing on empirical from rural and environmental contexts explored in his doctoral .

Political career

Pre-parliamentary involvement

Prior to his election to , Matthew Offord served as a Conservative on , representing the Hale ward in the area. He was first elected in the local elections on 2 May 2002, securing 1,345 votes against Labour and Liberal Democrat opponents. Offord was re-elected in the 2006 Barnet Council election on 4 May, receiving 1,914 votes and retaining the seat with a strengthened margin. In May 2006, following the Conservative-led administration's formation, Offord was appointed Deputy Leader of Barnet Council, a position he held until resigning in 2010 upon his parliamentary selection. As Deputy Leader, he contributed to policy formulation on environment and transport, aligning with local Conservative priorities in the constituency, which overlaps significantly with Barnet borough wards. His council tenure involved advocating for and local infrastructure improvements, establishing his profile within the party's grassroots in north-west . Offord's earlier political engagement included standing as the Conservative candidate in the safe Labour seat of East and during the 2001 general election, though he did not secure victory. This candidacy marked his initial foray into national politics, focusing on traditional Conservative themes of economic reform and community representation. He also held membership in the Association of European Parliamentarians with (AWEPA) Governing Council prior to 2010, through which he engaged in advocacy for democratic governance and development in African nations, reflecting continuity in his interest in and issues.

Election to Parliament and tenure as MP for Hendon (2010–2024)

Matthew Offord was elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament for the Hendon constituency in the 2010 general election, held on 6 May 2010, defeating the incumbent Labour MP Andrew Dismore by a narrow margin of 106 votes. Offord received 19,635 votes, representing 42.3% of the valid votes cast, on a turnout of 63.6% from an electorate of 72,943. This victory marked a Conservative gain from Labour in the north London seat, which encompasses diverse communities including a significant Jewish population. Offord retained the seat in subsequent general elections. In 2015, on 7 May, he secured a majority of 3,724 votes (7.5%) with 24,328 votes (49.0%), amid a turnout of 65.9%. The 2017 election, on 8 June, saw him hold the constituency with 25,078 votes and a reduced of 1,352 (2.6%), on higher turnout of 69.4%. By the on 12 December, Offord increased his majority to 4,230 (7.7%) with 26,878 votes (48.8%), with turnout at 66.6%. Throughout his tenure from 2010 to 2024, Offord represented , a constituency characterized by ethnic and religious diversity, notably featuring one of the largest Jewish communities in the , which has historically influenced its status in elections. On 3 May 2023, Offord announced his decision not to stand in the next , citing a desire to pursue other interests after 13 years in . His term concluded with the on 30 May 2024, ahead of the 4 July , during which the constituency was abolished and redistributed under new boundaries.

Parliamentary roles and legislative contributions

Offord chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Sri Lanka, serving as the registered contact and leading efforts to foster UK-Sri Lanka relations, including advocacy on post-conflict reconciliation and economic ties, as documented in the group's register through at least November 2023. He also chaired the APPG on Explosive Weapons, which examined global threats from improvised explosive devices and promoted enhanced detection and disposal technologies through inquiries and conferences, such as the 2018 Countering Explosive Threat and event. Additionally, Offord established and chaired the APPG on Illicit Trade, directing investigations into and counterfeiting's effects on UK security and economy, including a 2017 inquiry that highlighted impacts on businesses and launched reports urging stronger enforcement. He held vice-chair positions in APPGs pertinent to and trade, including the APPG on , which addressed regional stability and counter-terrorism cooperation, and contributed to discussions on explosive threats in debates like the 2019 Counter-Daesh update. These roles facilitated cross-party collaboration on policy recommendations, such as improved border controls against illicit goods and international aid for operations. Offord's legislative contributions included active participation in aligned with his APPG focuses, emphasizing practical countermeasures to transnational threats. In his valedictory speech on 24 May 2024, he underscored his commitment to service by noting that his office processed 60,884 pieces of casework in the 2019–2024 alone, covering constituent issues channeled through official representations to government departments. This volume reflects sustained engagement in resolving local matters via Westminster mechanisms, including advocacy on , , and concerns specific to constituents.

Key policy positions and votes

Offord has consistently advocated for restoring UK sovereignty post-Brexit, voting against the Windsor Framework regulations on 22 March 2023 alongside 28 other MPs, citing concerns that the deal failed to secure full Northern Irish alignment with Great Britain and risked perpetuating EU influence over UK internal affairs. His opposition aligned with broader Eurosceptic positions, including support for the European Union (Referendum) Bill in July 2013 to enable a public vote on membership and criticism of Theresa May's 2018 withdrawal agreement as unduly binding the UK to EU rules. On domestic security and counter-extremism, Offord backed the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill in July 2023, aimed at prohibiting public bodies from boycotting or territories under its control, framing such actions as discriminatory and detrimental to national security interests. He has opposed Labour Party policies perceived as lenient on extremism, particularly highlighting within its ranks, including writing to the in 2021 to protest airing an episode of featuring comedian over Sayle's past associations with groups denying allegations against Labour under . Offord contributed to the 2015 All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into , emphasizing empirical rises in incidents and the need for institutional accountability beyond politically motivated denials. In foreign policy, Offord chaired the on and advocated for balanced engagement, securing a Westminster Hall debate on 11 May 2023 to scrutinize economic aid amid the island's crisis while questioning Western emphases on alleged abuses that overlooked post-civil war reconciliation efforts and Tamil separatist violence. His voting record reflects strong alignment with Conservative priorities on trade liberalization and defense spending increases, consistently opposing Labour amendments to dilute welfare caps or controls in favor of fiscal restraint and border security.

Controversies and criticisms

On 5 May 2016, during polling day for local elections in Barnet, Labour Party campaigners alleged that Matthew Offord, from the window of his constituency office in , , shouted abusive language including profanities and made explicit hand gestures towards them as they passed in a decommissioned used for campaigning. The group, which included local Labour candidate Sury Khatri and a Fire Brigades Union member, reported the matter to police, prompting an investigation into a suspected public order offence under Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. Offord was questioned by officers at his office but denied the allegations, stating he had not engaged with the campaigners in the manner described. Police confirmed they were reviewing footage from the area but took no further action against him, with no charges filed. The incident occurred amid competitive local contests in , a marginal constituency with a history of intense campaigning, though no prior or subsequent election-related clashes involving Offord were formally reported to authorities.

Disputes over parliamentary privilege and accusations

In January 2011, during a House of Commons debate on , Matthew Offord invoked to accuse Adrian Murray-Leonard, a former Conservative ward chairman in and his political rival, of engaging in antisemitic conduct. grants MPs immunity from proceedings for statements made in , enabling Offord to raise the allegation without risk of libel suit; he described behaviors fitting Murray-Leonard's profile, including associations and rhetoric perceived as hostile toward Jewish constituents. Murray-Leonard, who matched the description, categorically denied the claims, expressing shock at the use of privilege for what he deemed an improper partisan attack and challenging Offord to substantiate them outside the protected parliamentary setting. The incident fueled debate over privilege's boundaries, with critics like Murray-Leonard arguing it was abused to settle local political scores rather than advance public interest, potentially eroding trust in MPs' motivations. Offord's defenders, however, highlighted privilege's value in permitting candid exposure of antisemitic threats in politically charged environments, where standard channels might invite litigation and suppress discussion of genuine risks to Jewish communities amid rising incidents. This use aligned with Offord's consistent emphasis on addressing antisemitism unhindered by external constraints. Offord extended such accusations beyond direct privilege invocations, as in May 2021 when he wrote to the BBC Director-General urging cancellation of comedian Alexei Sayle's Desert Island Discs episode, citing Sayle's prior assertion that antisemitism allegations among Jeremy Corbyn's Labour supporters constituted a "complete fabrication." Offord argued broadcasters must avoid platforms for those minimizing documented antisemitic patterns, such as those later affirmed in the Equality and Human Rights Commission's 2020 inquiry into Labour. Critics, including free speech advocates, condemned this as overreach attempting to censor dissenting views on political controversies, while Offord maintained it countered denialism that obscured causal links to real-world harms against Jews. These episodes illustrate tensions between privilege-enabled candor on antisemitism and perceptions of weaponized accusations against opponents.

Local and ideological clashes

Offord's opposition to the redefinition of as encompassing same-sex couples reflected his adherence to traditional , emphasizing as an institution between a man and a woman for the purpose of procreation and child-rearing. He voted against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill on 5 2013, arguing that such changes constituted an attack on religious beliefs and could compel schools to teach redefinitions of to pupils. In response to accusations of bigotry leveled by proponents, Offord stated he bitterly resented such labels, maintaining his position was grounded in preserving societal norms rather than . While some local LGBTQ+ residents expressed feelings of stemming from these stances, no verified instances of targeted discriminatory actions by Offord were documented; critiques largely centered on policy disagreements amplified by advocacy outlets with progressive leanings. In constituency matters, Offord clashed with Barnet Council—despite its Conservative leadership—over proposed austerity measures impacting public services. In February 2015, he publicly opposed library closures tied to a £2.85 million reduction, advocating for their preservation amid a consultation process and aligning with resident concerns about access to community resources. Earlier, in November 2012, he engaged in heated exchanges with Sury regarding the council's 'easyCouncil' model, which aimed to minimize direct service provision through private contracts but drew fire for potential quality declines and job losses; Offord's interventions highlighted tensions between national fiscal restraint and local service protection. Offord also pursued ideological confrontations against perceived extremism, particularly resonant in Hendon’s substantial Jewish community, which faces heightened risks from antisemitic incidents. In 2017, he welcomed Barnet Council's unanimous motion to proscribe Hezbollah entirely, citing its terrorist activities as a threat to local security. He launched a petition urging the government to ban Hezbollah flags under the Terrorism Act 2000, following their display at protests, and in 2024 promoted another petition to address extremism in demonstrations, including incitement to hatred amid post-October 7, 2023, unrest. These efforts positioned him as a defender of communal safety against imported conflicts, countering narratives that equated such advocacy with suppression of free speech.

Personal life and interests

Family and relationships

Offord married Claire Michelle Rowles, a former Conservative , on 12 2010 in a ceremony followed by a reception at in . The couple resides in the area, aligning with Offord's long-term roots in following his earlier life in . Offord was born on 3 September 1969 in , where his family originated. He has a younger brother, Darren Offord, who has faced periods of in Alton. No public records indicate Offord has children.

Hobbies and extracurricular activities

Offord is an avid yachtsman who regularly sails on the Welsh Harp Reservoir and has participated in competitive offshore races. For many years, he competed in the Round the Island Race, an annual event circumnavigating the Isle of Wight in an anti-clockwise direction, demonstrating sustained commitment to the sport. In 2009, Offord took part in the , a demanding 608-nautical-mile offshore challenge from to Plymouth via the Fastnet Rock, renowned for testing sailors' endurance amid unpredictable Atlantic conditions. He documented his preparation through a , highlighting the race's physical and strategic rigors as a "true test of ." Offord holds fellowship in the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS), underscoring his engagement with geographical exploration and related pursuits independent of his political career.

Post-parliamentary activities

Public commentary and writings (2024–present)

In an opinion piece for Jewish News on 3 October 2025, Offord argued that protests framed as solidarity marches for Gaza have evolved into conduits for and , vilifying by equating them with Israeli policies and military operations. He cited examples including chants of "F**k the Jews. Rape their daughters. Free " during the 2022 "Convoy for Palestine" and post-attack demonstrations following incidents like the vandalism, asserting that such events foster hatred under the pretext of free speech while deflecting blame for rising hate crimes. Offord critiqued the government's reluctance to impose stricter controls on these gatherings and questioned policies like recognition of as potentially emboldening extremists, urging greater support for affected communities. Offord also contributed to international commentary on in a January 2025 article in the Washington Times' "Free Iran" section, where he described the National Council of Resistance of 's 10-point plan—encompassing , , and abolition of the death penalty—as a practical framework for 's future, drawing on the widespread 2022–2023 protests against the regime as evidence of domestic momentum for . He emphasized that the plan's secular democratic principles offer a credible alternative to theocratic rule, countering narratives that dismiss opposition movements as unviable. Through his X (formerly ) account @Offord4Hendon, Offord has sustained discussions on and , aligning with his prior advocacy for refined legal definitions to address actions stirring religious or racial hatred in public demonstrations, though specific post-2024 posts build on pre-election petitions without launching new formal campaigns.

References

  1. https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/dr-matthew-offord/4006
  2. https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/matthew-offord/
  3. https://intouch-archive.kcl.ac.uk/autumn-winter-2022/celebrating-geography-at-100/
  4. https://www.cfcyprus.org.uk/news/new-parliamentary-chairmen-of-conservative-friends-of-cyprus-mathew-offord-mp-baroness-redfern
  5. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8844959/
  6. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2921421/Tory-MP-s-homeless-brother-begs-help.html
  7. https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/matthew-offord
  8. https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/matthew-offord/debate/2019-06-20/commons/westminster-hall/secondary-education-raising-aspiration
  9. https://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/news/177863.barnet_election_results_by_ward/
  10. https://www.amazon.nl/-/en/Othniel-Hermes/dp/6138292847
  11. https://wfeb.org/team-details/hon-mr-matthew-offord/
  12. https://electionresults.parliament.uk/elections/2877
  13. https://www.jpr.org.uk/sites/default/files/attachments/JPR.Where_Jewish_votes_may_matter_most.Guide_to_2015_General_Election%2520%25281%2529.pdf
  14. https://electionresults.parliament.uk/elections/277
  15. https://electionresults.parliament.uk/members/4006/elections
  16. https://electionresults.parliament.uk/elections/1577
  17. https://www.onlondon.co.uk/election-24-constituency-profile-hendon/
  18. https://barnetpost.co.uk/2023/05/03/hendon-mp-matthew-offord-to-step-down/
  19. https://www.parliament.uk/external/committees/commons-select/finance-committee/news/dissolution-2024/
  20. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/231101/sri-lanka.htm
  21. https://www.asdnews.com/news/defense/2018/11/21/countering-explosive-threat-demining-conference
  22. https://www.talkingretail.com/news/industry-news/mps-launch-inquiry-illicit-trade-uk-15-12-2017/
  23. https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/APPG/illicit-trade
  24. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/240306/pakistan.htm
  25. https://parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/matthew-offord/debate/2019-02-11/commons/commons-chamber/counter-daesh-update
  26. https://www.securingindustry.com/food-and-beverage/uk-parliamentary-illicit-trade-group-is-discontinued/s104/a13757/
  27. https://parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/matthew-offord/debate/2024-05-24/commons/commons-chamber/valedictory-debate
  28. https://members.parliament.uk/member/4006/voting
  29. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/03/22/conservative-mps-who-will-vote-against-ni-brexit-deal/
  30. https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2013-07-05/debates/13070542000002/EuropeanUnion%28Referendum%29Bill
  31. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/11/29/brexit-deal-latest-two-year-transition-period-needed-warns-bank/
  32. https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/matthew-offord/bill/2022-23/economicactivityofpublicbodiesoverseasmatters
  33. https://antisemitism.org/suspended-labour-members-twitter-trolls-and-controversial-parliamentarians-to-celebrate-jeremy-corbyns-birthday-tonight-and-discuss-how-to-restore-the-whip-to-the-antisemitic-former-party-le/
  34. https://antisemitism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Report-of-the-All-Party-Parliamentary-Inquiry-intoAntisemitism-1.pdf
  35. https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/matthew-offord/debate/2023-05-11/commons/commons-chamber/economic-aid-to-sri-lanka
  36. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sya8z5UgEE
  37. https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/24955/matthew_offord/hendon/votes
  38. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3579106/Police-quiz-MP-swore-local-Labour-candidate-Fire-Brigades-Union-member-hiding-office.html
  39. https://www.itv.com/news/2016-05-08/conservative-mp-reported-to-police-for-abusing-labour-campaigners
  40. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/london-mp-matthew-offord-reported-to-police-for-making-explicit-gestures-from-office-window-a3242946.html
  41. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-mp-reported-police-after-7927693
  42. https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/14477186.police-investigate-allegations-of-public-order-offence-near-mp-matthew-offords-constituency-office/
  43. https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/8806177.hendon-mp-matthew-offord-uses-parliamentary-privilege-to-attack-adrian-murray-leonard/
  44. https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2011-01-20/debates/11012058000001/Anti-Semitism
  45. https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/8808912.ex-hendon-tory-chairman-shocked-by-use-of-parliamentary-privilege-by-matthew-offord-mp-to-make-anti-semitism-accusation/
  46. https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/hendon-mp-urges-bbc-to-pull-desert-island-discs-with-alexei-sayle/
  47. https://antisemitism.org/conservative-mp-dr-matthew-offord-to-write-to-bbcs-director-general-requesting-bbc-not-broadcast-alexei-sayle-desert-island-discs-episode-after-comedian-claimed-allegations-of-antisemitism/
  48. https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2021/05/im-not-a-fan-of-alexei-sayle-but-he-has-a-right-to-hold-his-views/
  49. https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/9715638.tory-hendon-mp-misguided-for-denouncing-gay-marriage-according-to-finchley-and-golders-green-colleague/
  50. https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2013-02-05/debates/13020551000002/Marriage%28SameSexCouples%29Bill
  51. https://www.christian.org.uk/news/mp-schools-forced-to-teach-gay-marriage/
  52. https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/10210453.conservative-hendon-mp-matthew-offord-bitterly-resents-bigot-claims-in-same-sex-marriage-debate/
  53. http://barneteye.blogspot.com/2023/05/matthew-offord-mp-stands-down.html
  54. https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/11821841.Third_Tory_MP_speaks_out_against_proposed_library_closures_in_Barnet/
  55. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/nov/15/barnet-services-outsourcing-tories-row
  56. https://cfoi.co.uk/matthew-offord-mp-welcomes-barnet-councils-proscription-of-hezbollah/
  57. https://www.thejc.com/news/mp-calls-on-government-to-ban-hezbollah-flags-floyqr8o
  58. https://www.facebook.com/matthewofford4hendon/posts/petition-to-tackle-extremismrecent-protests-in-london-and-elsewhere-have-regrett/751702793448399/
  59. https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/4326932.a-true-test-of-leadership/
  60. https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/4327011.barnet-council-deputy-launches-fastnet-sailing-race-blog/
  61. https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-marches-claiming-to-be-about-gaza-have-turned-british-jews-into-targets/
  62. https://www.washingtontimes.com/specials/free-iran/
  63. https://x.com/offord4hendon
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.