by Alan Quick

PRIME Minister Theresa May has promoted the MP for Central Devon to a ministerial post in her Cabinet reshuffle following the general election on Thursday, June 8.

Mel Stride MP was appointed Financial Secretary to the Treasury yesterday, Monday, June 12, replacing Jane Ellison who lost her seat during the election.

He was elected the Conservative MP for Central Devon in 2010, aged 48.

In October 2011 Mel was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, John Hayes.

He later served as an Assistant Government Whip from July 2014 until May 2015 and as Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) from May 2015 until July 2016.

The Financial Secretary is responsible for:

• strategic oversight of the UK tax system including direct, indirect, business, property and personal taxation

• corporate and small business taxation

• European and international tax issues

• charities, the voluntary sector and gift aid

• environment and transport taxation, North Sea oil, gas and shipping

• excise (alcohol, tobacco) and gambling duties

• customs policy

• personal savings tax and pensions tax policy

• women in the economy

• departmental minister for HM Revenue and Customs and the Valuation Office Agency and the Government Actuary’s Department

• parliamentary deputy on public spending issues.

Mel’s previous roles in government were:

• Government Whip, Comptroller to HM Household from 2016 to 2017

• Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury from 2015 to 2016

• Assistant Whip from 2014 to 2015.

Mel was educated at Portsmouth Grammar School (after he was awarded a free place) and at Oxford University (after winning a free place), where he was elected President of the Oxford Union.

Mel set up his own business in 1987 specialising in trade exhibitions, conferences and publishing. He expanded this venture into the United States, working there before selling the US company.

On April 25, HM The Queen approved the appointment of Gavin Laurence Barwell MP and Melvyn John Stride MP as Privy Council members.

Conservative Mel Stride was returned as the MP for Central Devon for a third term at the election count held at Parklands Leisure Centre in Okehampton on Friday, June 9.

Acting Returning Officer Steve Jorden announced the results just before 5am: Mel Stride (Conservative) 31,278, Lisa Robillard Webb (Labour) 15,598, Alex White (Liberal Democrat) 6,770, Andy Williamson (Green) 1,531, Tim Matthews (UKIP) 1,326, John Dean (National Health Action) 871, Lloyd Knight (Liberal) 470.

The turnout was high at 77.9 per cent. There were 84 rejected ballot papers.

Mr Stride said following his re-election: "What a huge honour and a privilege it is to have been re-elected as the Member of Parliament for our wonderful and very special constituency.

"I will continue to fight for our local communities and for all the communities in Central Devon and for all the constituents of Central Devon regardless of their political persuasion and I will continue to represent us in Parliament with vigour and drive and determination."

He thanked the returning officer, staff, police, and in particular his agent and friend Mike Knuckey who he said "has been very supportive over so many years" and his wife Michelle and their children for their support.

He thanked his opponents and said: "At a time when we have had the atrocities in Manchester and London and of course some little while ago the attack on the cradle of democracy, the Houses of Parliament themselves that it is a great tribute to all of us standing in this election and to all candidates up and down the country that we carried on democracy regardless and I think that is a very special and a very beautiful thing. Thank you very much."

On Friday morning, June 9, Tim Matthews, from Crediton, the UKIP candidate, declared that he was standing down as a UKIP member because he was a "natural conservative" and was joining the Conservative Party.

He said that UKIP had "veered into extremism and racism".