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The Right Honourable
Sir Stephen Timms
MP
Official portrait, 2024
Minister of State for Social Security and Disability
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 July 2024
Prime MinisterKeir Starmer
Preceded byMims Davies
Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee
In office
29 January 2020 – 30 May 2024
Preceded byFrank Field
Succeeded byDebbie Abrahams
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
In office
5 May 2006 – 28 June 2007
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Preceded byDes Browne
Succeeded byAndy Burnham
Shadow portfolios
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Acting
8 June 2015 – 13 September 2015
LeaderHarriet Harman (Acting)
Preceded byRachel Reeves
Succeeded byOwen Smith
Shadow Minister for Employment
In office
8 October 2010 – 13 September 2015
LeaderEd Miliband
Harriet Harman (Acting)
Preceded byMark Hoban
Succeeded byEmily Thornberry
Junior ministerial offices
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital Britain
In office
6 August 2009 – 11 May 2010
Prime MinisterGordon Brown
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Financial Secretary to the Treasury
In office
5 October 2008 – 11 May 2010
Prime MinisterGordon Brown
Preceded byJane Kennedy
Succeeded byMark Hoban
In office
12 September 2004 – 6 May 2005
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Preceded byRuth Kelly
Succeeded byJohn Healey
In office
29 July 1999 – 8 June 2001
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Preceded byBarbara Roche
Succeeded byPaul Boateng
Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform
In office
25 January 2008 – 3 October 2008
Prime MinisterGordon Brown
Preceded byCaroline Flint
Succeeded byTony McNulty
Minister of State for Competitiveness[a]
In office
2 July 2007 – 25 January 2008
Prime MinisterGordon Brown
Preceded byPosition re-established
Succeeded byThe Baroness Vadera
In office
29 May 2002 – 9 September 2004
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Preceded byDouglas Alexander
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Minister of State for Pensions
In office
6 May 2005 – 5 May 2006
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Preceded byMalcolm Wicks
Succeeded byJames Purnell
In office
23 December 1998 – 29 July 1999
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Preceded byJohn Denham
Succeeded byJeff Rooker
Minister of State for Schools
In office
11 June 2001 – 24 October 2002
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Preceded byEstelle Morris
Succeeded byDavid Miliband
Member of Parliament
for East Ham
Newham North East (1994–1997)
Incumbent
Assumed office
9 June 1994
Preceded byRon Leighton
Majority12,863 (33.9%)
Personal details
Born
Stephen Creswell Timms

(1955-07-29) 29 July 1955 (age 69)
Oldham, England
Political partyLabour
Spouse
Hui-Leng Lim
​
(m. 1986)​
Alma materEmmanuel College, Cambridge
Websitewww.stephentimms.org.uk

Sir Stephen Creswell Timms (born 29 July 1955) is a British Labour Party politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for East Ham, formerly Newham North East, since 1994. He has served as Minister of State for Social Security and Disability since July 2024.[1][2]

Timms served in the New Labour governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown under several portfolios. He served for three periods as Financial Secretary to the Treasury; from 1999 to 2001, 2004 to 2005 and 2008 to 2010. As Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Timms attended Cabinet from 2006 to 2007.

In May 2010, Timms survived an attempted murder by Islamist terrorist Roshonara Choudhry who stabbed him twice in the abdomen at his constituency surgery. Choudhry was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Timms served on the Official Opposition frontbench as Shadow Minister for Employment and later served in the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. He returned to the backbenches in September 2015.

Early life and career

[edit]

Stephen Timms was born on 29 July 1955 in Oldham, Lancashire, to Ronald James Timms, an engineer, and Margaret Joyce Timms, a teacher.[3][4] He was educated at Farnborough Grammar School in Farnborough, Hampshire, before studying mathematics at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he gained a degree in mathematics in 1977 and an MPhil in operational research in 1978.[5]

Before entering politics, Timms worked in the telecommunications industry for 15 years, first for Logica from 1978 to 1986, and then for Ovum from 1986 to 1994, where he worked as a manager responsible for producing reports on the future of telecommunications. He was elected as a councillor for the Little Ilford Ward on Newham London Borough Council in a by-election in 1984, and served as Leader of the Council from 1990 to 1994.[5]

Parliamentary career

[edit]

At the 1994 Newham North East by-election, Timms was elected to Parliament as MP for Newham North East with 75% of the vote and a majority of 11,838.[6]

Prior to the 1997 general election, Timms' constituency of Newham North East was abolished, and replaced with East Ham. At the election, Timms was elected to Parliament as MP for East Ham with 64.6% of the vote and a majority of 19,358.[7]

Timms served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Andrew Smith from May 1997 to March 1998, and later to Mo Mowlam from March to July 1998.[8]

In 1998, Timms was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Social Security, rising to Minister of State in that department in 1999.[8]

At the 2001 general election, Timms was re-elected as MP for East Ham with an increased vote share of 73.1% and an increased majority of 21,032.[9] He was again re-elected at the 2005 general election, with a decreased vote share of 53.9% and a decreased majority of 13,155.[10]

In May 2006, Timms was promoted to the Cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, a post in which he remained until 28 June 2007, when he was removed from the cabinet by new prime minister Gordon Brown.[5] It was later announced that he had been appointed Minister of State for Competitiveness at the newly created Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

Following the government reshuffle on 24 January 2008, Timms moved to the Department for Work and Pensions, and became Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform.[11] On 3 October 2008, Timms returned to his former role as Financial Secretary to the Treasury.[5]

In August 2009, Timms was given additional responsibility for Digital Britain.[12] In September 2009, he announced plans for a tax of £6 per year to be levied on each phone account in the UK. At the time, this was characterised as a stealth tax in the media. In April 2010, Timms' department made an embarrassing slip when a letter purporting to be from him mistakenly identified IP address as "intellectual property address".[13] According to the accountants' magazine Accountancy Age, he was highly regarded by finance professionals despite such gaffes.[14]

At the 2010 general election, Timms was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 70.4% and an increased majority of 27,826.[15]

In February 2013 Timms abstained on the second reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.[16][17][18] Subsequently, in May 2013 he voted against the bill's third and final reading, opposing the legalisation of same-sex marriage within England and Wales.[19]

Timms was again re-elected at the 2015 general election with an increased vote share of 77.6% and an increased majority of 34,252.[20]

Following the 2015 Labour Party leadership election, he was offered a junior shadow Treasury position by new leader Jeremy Corbyn but chose to turn it down and return to the backbenches.[21]

Timms supported Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 Labour leadership election.[22]

At the snap 2017 general election, Timms was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 83.2% and an increased majority of 39,883.[23][24] He was again re-elected at the 2019 general election, with a decreased vote share of 76.3% and a decreased majority of 33,176.[25]

In April 2021, Timms praised the work of the controversial Jesus House Church on Twitter.[26] His tweet came after an official apology from Labour leader Keir Starmer, who had admitted it had been a "mistake" to film a promotional video at the church when it had come to light that the pastor of the church, Agu Irukwu, had previously opposed same sex marriage and equality legislation.[27][28] LGBT+ Labour said they were "disappointed" to see Timms' tweet so soon after Starmer's apology, after Timms was criticised for supporting the "anti-LGBTQ+" church.[29]

On 23 August 2021, Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed Timms as the UK's trade envoy to Switzerland and Liechtenstein.[30]

Timms was knighted in the 2022 Birthday Honours for political and public service.[31]

At the 2024 general election, Timms was again re-elected with a decreased vote share of 51.6% and a decreased majority of 12,863.[32]

Murder attempt

[edit]
Main article: Stabbing of Stephen Timms

On 14 May 2010, Timms was approached by 21-year-old female Islamist extremist Roshonara Choudhry, during a constituency surgery at the Beckton Globe Library in Kingsford Way in Beckton.[33][34] Choudhry stabbed Timms twice in the abdomen with a 15cm (6-inch) kitchen knife, before being disarmed.[35] She stated that she had been influenced by watching sermons of Anwar al-Awlaki, a leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and that her attack was to punish Timms for voting for the Iraq War, and seek revenge for the Iraqi people.[36][37][38]

He suffered "potentially life-threatening" wounds, including lacerations to his liver and a perforation to his stomach.[39] Timms underwent emergency surgery at the Royal London Hospital, from which he was discharged on 19 May.[40]

On 2 November 2010, Choudhry was found guilty of Timms' attempted murder. She was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years.[39] After the court case, Timms said he was not bitter, but that forgiveness was not possible because his attacker showed no remorse. He has since sought the banning of incendiary material on popular internet sites "to protect other vulnerable young people from going down the same road."[41] YouTube removed some videos of al-Awlaki within hours of the sentence.[36][41]

After the murder of David Amess, Timms said in parliament that he would like to meet Choudhry, so "he can finally forgive her".[42]

Personal life

[edit]

Timms is an evangelical Christian.[43][44] He is passionate about Christians entering politics and is a keen supporter of Just Love, a social justice movement working with Christian students.[45] He has lived in the London Borough of Newham since 1979, and has been married to Hui-Leng Lim since 1986.[41]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ e-Commerce and Competitiveness (2002–04)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ministerial Appointments: July 2024". GOV.UK. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Minister of State (Minister for Social Security and Disability) – GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  3. ^ East Ham Archived 17 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine UK Polling Report
  4. ^ Passmore, Valerie (2005). Dod's parliamentary companion guide ... Dod's Parliamentary Companion. ISBN 9780905702575. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d "Stephen Timms: MP with the safest seat in Commons". London: Telegraph. 14 May 2010. Archived from the original on 17 May 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  6. ^ "UK Parliament".
  7. ^ "Election 1997 Results – Election Polling". www.electionpolling.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Sir Stephen Timms". UK Parliament. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  9. ^ "BBC NEWS | VOTE 2001 | RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES | East Ham". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  10. ^ "2005 – 2005 General Election – East Ham". webtest.parliament.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Department for Work and Pensions – Stephen Timms official profile". The National Archives. Archived from the original on 27 July 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  12. ^ Timms to lead 'Digital Britain' Archived 20 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News, 6 August 2009
  13. ^ Minister for Digital Britain blunders in embarrassing 'IP' slip-up Archived 12 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine, MediaWeek, 9 April 2010
  14. ^ Accountants storm the Treasury Archived 17 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Accountancy Age, 14 May 2010
  15. ^ Statement of Persons Nominated Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine, Newham Council
  16. ^ Jones, Owen (11 June 2012). "Labour's U-turn on equal marriage: why is equality for minority groups a matter of conscience?". Independent. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  17. ^ Edwards, Peter (5 February 2013). "How will each Labour MP vote on Equal Marriage?". LabourList. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  18. ^ Sparrow, Andrew (6 February 2013). "MPs vote in favour of gay marriage: Politics live blog". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  19. ^ "The Public Whip — Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill — Third Reading – 21 May 2013 at 18:59". www.publicwhip.org.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  21. ^ Murphy-Bates, Sebastian (16 September 2015). "Stephen Timms rejects treasury job in Corbyn's Labour". Newhaw Recorder. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  22. ^ Smith, Mikey; Bloom, Dan (20 July 2016). "Which MPs are nominating Owen Smith in the Labour leadership contest?". Mirror. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  23. ^ "East Ham parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  24. ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis" (PDF) (Second ed.). House of Commons Library. 29 January 2019 [7 April 2018]. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2019.
  25. ^ https://www.newham.gov.uk/Documents/Council%20and%20Democracy/StatementOfPersonsNominatedAndNoticeOfPollEastHam.pdf [dead link]
  26. ^ Stephen Timms [@stephenctimms] (6 April 2021). "I applaud the extraordinary work of @jesushouseuk, and of churches and other faith groups, in supporting our communities throughout the past year" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ^ Worley, Will (30 May 2017). "Theresa May 'worships' with pastor who campaigned against gay equality and same-sex marriage". Independent. Archived from the original on 3 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  28. ^ Osbourne, Samuel (5 April 2021). "Keir Starmer apologises for visiting church where pastor opposed gay rights". Independent. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  29. ^ Baska, Maggie (6 April 2017). "Labour MP Stephen Timms 'applauds' notoriously homophobic church Jesus House despite Keir Starmer apology". Independent. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  30. ^ "PM announces new Trade Envoys to boost British business around the world". GOV.UK (Press release). 23 August 2021. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  31. ^ "No. 63714". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 2022. p. B2.
  32. ^ "Election Results 2024". London Borough of Newham. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  33. ^ Woman charged with attempted murder of Labour MP Archived 20 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine, The Times, 15 May 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  34. ^ "Former minister Timms stabbed". BBC News. 14 May 2010. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  35. ^ Woman, 21, arrested over stabbing of Labour MP Archived 7 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine, The Independent, 15 May 2010
  36. ^ a b YouTube Withdraws Cleric's Videos Archived 11 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times, 4 November 2010
  37. ^ "Al-Qaeda leader's tour of Britain 'radicalised a generation of young Muslims'". Oneindia News. 6 November 2010. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  38. ^ HEGGHAMMER, T., NESSER, P.. Assessing the Islamic State's Commitment to Attacking the West. Perspectives on Terrorism, North America, 9, jul. 2015. Available at: <http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/index.php/pot/article/view/440 Archived 19 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine>. Date accessed: 7 June 2017.
  39. ^ a b "Woman jailed for life for attack on MP Stephen Timms". BBC News. 3 November 2010. Archived from the original on 3 November 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  40. ^ MP Stephen Timms discharged from London hospital Archived 20 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News, 19 May 2010
  41. ^ a b c Stephen Timms: I don't feel bitter but I'm not ready to forgive my knife attacker Archived 10 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Evening Standard, 4 November 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  42. ^ "Stephen Timms: MP who survived stabbing wants to meet jailed attacker". BBC News. 19 October 2021. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  43. ^ Labour Party: Faith groups Archived 1 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
  44. ^ Tory backlash against same-sex marriage Archived 19 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian, 10 December 2012 (retrieved 10 December 2012)
  45. ^ Christians can help to rebuild confidence in politics – Stephen Timms MP Archived 9 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Christian Today, 2 March 2021 (retrieved 3 March 2021)
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stephen Timms.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Newham North East
1994–1997 		Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament
for East Ham
1997–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Financial Secretary to the Treasury
1999–2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of State for Schools
2001–2002 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Financial Secretary to the Treasury
2004–2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Secretary to the Treasury
2006–2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Financial Secretary to the Treasury
2008–2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Acting
2015 		Succeeded by
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