Stephen Metcalfe (politician)

Stephen James Metcalfe (born 9 January 1966) is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom, who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Basildon and East Thurrock since May 2010.

Early and personal life

Metcalfe is married to Angela, with whom he has two children. Before becoming an MP, Metcalfe worked in the family printing business, where his wife continues to work.

Political career

Metcalfe stood unsuccessfully at the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate in Ilford South at the 2005 general election.

He was an Epping Forest District councillor and was portfolio holder for Customer Services, ICT & E-government until he stood down in order to concentrate on his campaign to be elected as an MP. As a councillor he campaigned on issues including green belt protection, the introduction of traffic calming schemes as well as working with communities to find ways of engaging the young.

Metcalfe won the seat at the general election in May 2010, unseating the then Third Sector and Social Exclusion minister Angela Evans Smith who had been elected to the seat in 1997.

In 2012 Metcalfe was named by Conservative Home as one of a minority of loyal Conservative backbench MPs not to have voted against the government in any significant rebellions. He was subsequently one of 136 Conservative MPs to oppose the third reading of the Coalition's Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.

He is a Vice-President of the House of Commons Debating Group.