Paul Stinchcombe

Paul David Stinchcombe QC (born 25 April 1962) is an English barrister and Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom.

Early life

Stinchcombe went to the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe. At Trinity College, Cambridge, he studied Law, gaining a double first MA. He went to Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, gaining a LLM. He became a barrister, working alongside Cherie Blair, specialising in environmental law. He was a councillor in the London Borough of Camden. He is a Christian Socialist who used Biblical imagery in his speeches, being also a speechwriter for Tony Blair as Prime Minister.

Parliamentary career

He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wellingborough from 1997 until the 2005 general election when he lost his seat to Peter Bone of the Conservative Party. He had gained the seat from Peter Fry. His election was one of Labour's most surprise victories, with Stinchcombe only winning the seat by a small majority of 187 votes. In 2001 he joined the Commons environment, food and rural affairs select committee.

Career at the bar

Immediately after the election he returned to his profession as a barrister. He was appointed, following the Bar Council's assessment, a QC in 2011. He moved chambers to 39 Essex Street in 2013.

Personal life

He married Suzanne Gardiner on 7 July 1990. They have two sons and one daughter.