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Wera Hobhouse

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Wera Hobhouse
MP
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for Bath
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 June 2017
Preceded byBen Howlett
Majority11,218 (23.3%)
Rochdale Borough Councillor
for Norden
In office
2004–2014
Liberal Democrat portfolios
2017–2019Communities and Local Government
2019–2020Environment and Climate Change
2019, 2020–2022Justice
2019–2020, 2022–2024Transport
2020, 2022–2024Energy and Climate Change
2020–2022Women and Equalities
2020–2024Leader of the House of Commons
Personal details
Born
Wera Benedicta von Reden

(1960-02-08) 8 February 1960 (age 64)
Hanover, Lower Saxony, West Germany
Citizenship
  • British
  • German
Political partyLiberal Democrats (2005–present)
Other political
affiliations		Conservative (until 2005)
Spouse
William Hobhouse
​
(m. 1989)​
Children4
Alma mater
Websitewww.werahobhouse.co.uk

Wera Benedicta Hobhouse (née von Reden, 8 February 1960) is a British-German Liberal Democrat politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bath since 2017.

Hobhouse has previously served on the Liberal Democrat front bench as spokesperson for Communities and Local Government, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Transport, Energy and Climate Change, and as the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons.[1]

Early life and career

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Wera von Reden was born on 8 February 1960 in Hanover.[2] She studied history and fine art at the University of Münster and then studied art for two years at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. She then moved back to Germany, completing a master's degree in history and fine art at the Free University of Berlin.[3] She married William Hobhouse in 1989 and moved to England the following year. They first lived in Liverpool, where she opened an art gallery on Falkner Street;[3] they later moved to Rochdale in 1999.[4] Prior to her political career, she was a teacher, radio journalist and artist.[2][5][6][7]

Political career

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Hobhouse was first elected in 2004 as a Conservative councillor for the ward of Norden on Rochdale Council, Greater Manchester. Her political career in Rochdale was defined by the Spodden Valley asbestos controversy, which was the proposed development of 650 homes on an asbestos-contaminated site.[8] Hobhouse and her husband opposed the proposals, leading them to defect to the Liberal Democrats in 2005. They were criticised at the time for not triggering by-elections to seek fresh mandates as Liberal Democrat councillors.[9][10] The development was successfully blocked in 2011.[11]

Hobhouse was re-elected in 2006 and 2010 for the Liberal Democrats in Norden.[12][13] The Liberal Democrats assumed majority control of Rochdale Council in 2007; Hobhouse served as the cabinet member for the environment between 2006 and 2009 and chaired the health scrutiny committee from 2009 to 2010. After the Liberal Democrats lost majority control of the council in 2010, Hobhouse was elected as the leader of the much-reduced Liberal Democrat group on Rochdale Council in May 2011.[14] In July 2011, Hobhouse accused a council officer of failing to act impartially but later apologised after the council officer began legal action for defamation.[15]

In 2014, she retired as a councillor for Norden and moved to Bath.[3] In the local elections of May 2015 she stood unsuccessfully for election to the Bath and North East Somerset Council in the Peasedown ward.[16] On the same day, at the 2015 general election, Hobhouse unsuccessfully contested the constituency of North East Somerset,[17] finishing fourth with 7.9% of the vote behind the incumbent Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Labour candidate, and the UKIP candidate.[18][19]

Parliamentary career

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Hobhouse stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate in Heywood and Middleton at the 2010 general election,[20] coming third with 22.7% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP Jim Dobbin and the Conservative candidate.[21]

In 2017, Hobhouse was selected as the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for the constituency of Bath.[22] Hobhouse stood on a pro-European platform which emphasised housing, education, congestion and pollution concerns, as well as opposition to the incumbent Conservative MP's plans to link the A46 and A36 roads together. Her party emphasised the need for Labour supporters to vote tactically for Hobhouse to defeat the Conservatives.[5][23] At the snap 2017 general election, Hobhouse was elected to Parliament as the MP for Bath with 47.3% of the vote and a majority of 5,694 votes.[24][25]

Following her election, Hobhouse was appointed as the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for housing, communities and local government.[26][27] She made her maiden speech on 29 June 2017, and sits on the Committee on Exiting the European Union.[28][27]

On 6 March 2018, Hobhouse presented a Private Members' Bill to amend the Sexual Offences Act 2003; her bill aimed to outlaw acts of voyeurism, especially upskirting, which were not then explicitly covered by UK law.[29][30] Justice Secretary David Gauke signalled that the government would support Hobhouse's bill,[31] which was later supported by the Prime Minister, Theresa May.[32] Hobhouse's bill was not debated at its presentation in the House of Commons.[33] At its second reading in the Commons on 15 June 2018, Conservative MP Christopher Chope objected to Hobhouse's bill, preventing its passage through the Commons.[34] The Prime Minister, Theresa May, expressed her disappointment at the objection.[35] Following his objection, the government reaffirmed its commitment to introduce legislation to outlaw upskirting.[36] A government bill to outlaw upskirting was introduced to the House of Commons on 21 June 2018;[37][38] and passed its second reading on 3 July 2018 to become the Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019.[38]

In an interview with HuffPost UK published in May 2018, Hobhouse warned against what she described as a "toxic" immigration debate in the UK. She acknowledged her party's limited resources following its electoral collapse at the 2015 general election, and affirmed that she was happy with Vince Cable as the party's leader. She urged the party to do more to increase its diversity.[26] In July 2018, Hobhouse was criticised for claiming £4,800 in parliamentary expenses for a heavy duty colour printer. Defending her actions, Hobhouse said that she had saved the taxpayer £40,000 by taking over the lease from Bath's previous MP and that she required the printer for her constituency letters.[39][40] In October 2018, Hobhouse's constituency office announced that it had completed 6,000 pieces of casework.[41]

Wera Hobhouse announced winner at the Bath 2019 general election declaration, alongside Annabel Tall the Conservative candidate

In February 2019, Hobhouse was made the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for the environment and climate change.[42] In this capacity, Hobhouse pushed for an end to most carbon emissions by 2030, and for net-zero carbon emissions to be achieved by 2045 at the latest.[43] This became the policy position of the Liberal Democrats at their conference in September 2019, where Hobhouse gave a keynote speech on tackling the climate crisis.[44] Among the proposals that she has promoted to meet these targets, Hobhouse has called for a permanent ban on fracking, for increased investment in renewable energy, for greater powers to be given to local authorities to cut emissions, and for all airport expansion to be halted until a replacement can be found for jet fuel.[43]

At the 2019 general election, Hobhouse was re-elected as MP for Bath with an increased vote share of 54.5% and an increased majority of 12,322.[45][46]

In February 2020, Hobhouse announced that she would stand in the 2020 Liberal Democrats leadership election, before withdrawing in June and endorsing Layla Moran.[47][48]

Hobhouse is a former member of the governing council of the Electoral Reform Society.[49] She supports proportional representation for UK elections and claims that the coalition government's failure to secure electoral reform was its "biggest disappointment".[7]

Hobhouse supports abortion reform in Northern Ireland,[50] and has supported a campaign to improve the treatment of eating disorders, including by leading a parliamentary debate on destigmatising them.[51][52][53] In local politics, she launched a petition to fund a large police station for the city.[54]

In May 2021, alongside celebrities and other public figures, Hobhouse was a signatory to an open letter from Stylist magazine which called on the government to address what it described as an "epidemic of male violence" by funding an "ongoing, high-profile, expert-informed awareness campaign on men's violence against women and girls".[55] At this time, Hobhouse also received criticism for her lack of support and hostility towards her own constituent who turned to her for support with domestic abuse. [56]

Hobhouse introduced a Private Members' Bill, the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill, in the House of Commons to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, which was thought would force a culture change in employment. The Bill was passed on 20 October 2023.[57][58]

At the 2024 general election, Hobhouse was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 41.3% and a decreased majority of 11,218.[59]

Personal life

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Hobhouse has been married to the businessman William Hobhouse since 1989.[3] They both cite the fall of the Berlin Wall as a pivotal moment in their lives, which they witnessed when they lived in Germany.[7][60] They have four children, two sons and two daughters.[2][5] She naturalised as a British citizen in 2007.[26][61]

Hobhouse is a Christian.[26] Although her mother and grandmother identified as Christian, her great-grandfather was Jewish; which meant that her family was persecuted under the Nuremberg Laws.[6] Hobhouse is fluent in English, German and French.[23] She cites Barack Obama and William Wilberforce as her political idols.[62]

References

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  1. ^ "Wera Hobhouse – Parliamentary Career". Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Hobhouse, Wera Benedicta, (born Feb. 1960), MP (Lib Dem) Bath, since 2017". Who's Who. 2017. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.289521.
  3. ^ a b c d "Wera Hobhouse: Biography". Archived from the original on 8 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Former Rochdale councillor Wera Hobhouse elected MP for Bath". Rochdale Online. 16 June 2017. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Petherick, Sam (7 June 2017). "Big interview: Wera Hobhouse goes from grassroots campaigner to vying for Bath's seat in parliament". Bath Chronicle. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  6. ^ a b Dysch, Marcus (14 July 2017). "Same old Middle East debate? Maybe not". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  7. ^ a b c Petherick-Bath, Sam (10 June 2017). "'Somewhat vindicated': Interview with Bath's first woman MP Wera Hobhouse". Bath Chronicle. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  8. ^ Dorsett, Bethan. "Asbestos concerns 'very real', firms finally admit". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Rochdale Tories in meltdown as Councillors defect (Rochdale Liberal Democrats)". Rochdale: Liberal Democrats (UK). Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Party fury as Tory defectors join Lib Dems". Manchester Evening News. 25 April 2005. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Seven years of the Save Spodden Valley campaign". Rochdale Online. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Rochdale Online – Local Election 2006 – Results". www.rochdaleonline.co.uk. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  13. ^ "Rochdale Online – Local Election 2010 – Results". www.rochdaleonline.co.uk. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  14. ^ "Clegg critic Lib Dem leader quits". BBC News. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  15. ^ Jones, Chris (26 October 2011). "Apology from Lib Dem leader Wera Hobhouse over conduct slur". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  16. ^ "Peasedown". Bath and North East Somerset Council. 7 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  17. ^ "Somerset North East". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Somerset North East". BBC. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  20. ^ "Election results for Heywood & Middleton, 6 May 2010". Rochdale Borough Council. 6 May 2010. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  21. ^ Council, Rochdale Metropolitan Borough (6 May 2010). "Election results for Heywood & Middleton, 6 May 2010". democracy.rochdale.gov.uk.
  22. ^ Lowther, Ed (18 May 2017). "Election 2017: How many women might win power?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017.
  23. ^ a b Moorcraft, Bethan (11 May 2017). "Who is Bath Liberal Democrat candidate Wera Hobhouse?". Bath Chronicle. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  24. ^ "Bath parliamentary constituency – Election 2017". BBC News. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  25. ^ "GE2017 – Constituency results". Britain Elects. Retrieved 11 June 2017 – via Google Docs.
  26. ^ a b c d Simons, Ned (1 May 2018). "Lib Dem Wera Hobhouse Worries 'Toxic' Debate On Immigration Reminiscent Of Nazi Germany". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  27. ^ a b "Wera Hobhouse MP, Bath – TheyWorkForYou". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  28. ^ "Economy and Jobs – Hansard Online – 29 June 2017". hansard.parliament.uk. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  29. ^ "Voyeurism (Offences) Bill" (PDF). House of Commons. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  30. ^ "Liberal Democrat MP tables new law to make 'upskirting' a criminal offence". The Independent. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  31. ^ "New law could be made against upskirting in the UK". The Telegraph. 24 April 2018. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  32. ^ "Prime Minister backs Wera Hobhouse MP's calls to make upskirting an offence". Liberal Democrats – Wera Hobhouse MP. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  33. ^ "Voyeurism (Offences) Bill 2017–19 — UK Parliament". UK Parliament Services. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  34. ^ "New upskirting law blocked by Tory MP". BBC News. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  35. ^ Allegretti, Aubrey (16 June 2018). "Theresa May 'disappointed' as Tory MP Sir Christopher Chope blocks upskirting bill". Sky News. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  36. ^ Crerar, Pippa (18 June 2018). "Upskirting: government confirms plan to introduce ban". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  37. ^ Bradley, Sorcha (21 June 2018). "Campaigners celebrate as government tables bill to tackle upskirting". Sky News. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  38. ^ a b "Voyeurism (Offences) (No. 2) Bill" (PDF). publications.parliament.uk. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  39. ^ Tominey, Camilla (22 July 2018). "I write a lot of letters, insists the MP with a £5,000 printer". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  40. ^ Petherick, Sam (18 July 2018). "Bath MP claims nearly £5k for printer". somersetlive. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  41. ^ "Bath MP Wera Hobhouse thanks team after completion of 6000 cases". Bath Echo. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  42. ^ "Wera Hobhouse". Liberal Democrats. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  43. ^ a b Harvey, Fiona (14 September 2019). "Lib Dems set out radical agenda for tackling climate emergency". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  44. ^ "F29: Tackling the Climate Emergency". Liberal Democrats. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  45. ^ Godfrey (14 November 2019). "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF). Bath and North East Somerset Council. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  46. ^ "Bath parliamentary constituency – Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  47. ^ Bush, Stephen (6 February 2020). "Wera Hobhouse is the first Lib Dem leadership candidate – but she's unlikely to win". New Statesman. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  48. ^ "Liberal Democrat leadership race: Wera Hobhouse drops out and backs Layla Moran". Politics Home. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  49. ^ "Our council". Electoral Reform Society. Archived from the original on 9 December 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  50. ^ Al-Othman, Hannah (7 June 2018). "These MPs Say They'll Force The Government To Reform Northern Irish Abortion Law". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  51. ^ "Bath MP Wera Hobhouse calls for better treatment to tackle eating disorders". Bath Echo. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  52. ^ "Eating disorder campaign supported by Bath MP reaches 10 Downing Street". Bath Echo. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  53. ^ "Bath MP Wera Hobhouse leads parliament debate on eating disorders". Bath Echo. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  54. ^ "Bath MP Wera Hobhouse launches petition for 'proper police station'". Bath Echo. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  55. ^ ""We're calling on you to act now": read Stylist's open letter to Priti Patel about ending male violence against women and girls". Stylist. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  56. ^ Carl Miller (25 November 2024). "Kill List: Bath". Kill List (Podcast). Wondery. Event occurs at 35:30. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  57. ^ "Parliamentary Bills".
  58. ^ "The Worker Protection Bill will become law". The Fawcett Society. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  59. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll - Election of Member of Parliament for the Bath Constituency". Bath and North East Somerset Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  60. ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie (12 January 2013). "When the wall fell into history". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 9 December 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  61. ^ Wadeson, R. (16 January 2012). "Candidate Leadership Programme – Participant Profiles" (PDF). Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  62. ^ Petherick-Bath, Sam (13 June 2017). "What's the naughtiest thing new Bath MP Wera Hobhouse has ever done?". Bath Chronicle. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
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