Steven Woolfe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steven Woolfe
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Woolfe in 2016
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| Member of the European Parliament for North West England |
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| In office 1 July 2014 – 1 July 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Atkins |
| Succeeded by | David Bull |
| UKIP portfolios | |
| 2014 | Economics |
| 2015–2016 | Immigration |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Steven Marcus Woolfe
6 October 1967 Moss Side, Manchester, England |
| Political party | Independent (since 2016) |
| Other political affiliations |
Conservative (2000–2010) UKIP (2010–2016) |
| Education | St. Bede's College, Manchester |
| Alma mater | Aberystwyth University; City Law School |
Steven Marcus Woolfe, born on October 6, 1967, is a British lawyer, writer, and speaker. He is also a former politician. Currently, he leads a research group called the Centre for Migration & Economic Prosperity. This group studies how people move and settle in the UK, Europe, and the US. From 2014 to 2019, he was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for North West England. He was first a member of the UKIP. In 2016, he became an independent MEP. This happened because he disagreed with UKIP's strong views on immigration. He stayed independent until July 2019.
Contents
Early Life and School
Steven Woolfe was born in Moss Side, Manchester, England. He grew up in Burnage. His grandmother came to Britain from Ireland. His parents were both born in Manchester. Steven was the oldest of four children. His younger half-brother, Nathan Woolfe, is a football player.
Steven went to St Bernard's Roman Catholic Primary School. As a child, he won a scholarship to St Bede's College. This is a private school in Manchester. There, he was very good at sports, debating, and his studies.
After school, Steven studied law at Aberystwyth University. He won several awards and earned his law degree in 1990.
Working as a Lawyer
After university, Steven Woolfe continued his law studies in London. He became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer who represents people in court. He worked for different law firms.
Later, he started working for big banks like the Union Bank of Switzerland and Credit Suisse. He helped manage legal and rule-following tasks. He also worked for hedge fund managers. These are companies that manage large investments. He helped start the Hedge Fund Lawyers Association. He was its leader from 2010 to 2012. Since 2019, he has also advised financial companies on legal matters.
Political Journey
Steven Woolfe became interested in politics through Lord Pearson of Rannoch. He gave his first speech for the UKIP in 2010. Nigel Farage, a well-known UKIP leader, asked Steven to join his team. Steven became UKIP's spokesperson for economics. In 2011, he was elected to UKIP's main committee.
He ran for office in London in 2012. In November 2012, he also ran for Police and Crime Commissioner in Greater Manchester. He focused on being tough on crime and supporting community policing. He finished fifth in that election.
In 2014, Steven Woolfe helped lead a meeting. It was about UKIP's candidates from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds.
Becoming an MEP
In the 2014 European Parliament election, Steven Woolfe was chosen to represent UKIP. He became one of three UKIP members elected as an MEP for North West England.
In 2014, he became UKIP's spokesperson for migration policy. He believed that migration should be fair and based on a person's skills, not their background. This idea was later used by other political groups.
From 2014 to 2015, Steven was also responsible for economic policy and tax. He wanted to make taxes simpler and lower for everyone. He suggested changes to help middle-class families and those earning the minimum wage.
In 2014, he was chosen to run for Parliament in Stockport. In the 2015 general election, he came third.
UKIP Leadership Bid
In July 2016, Steven Woolfe tried to become the leader of UKIP. This was after Nigel Farage stepped down. He had support from UKIP leaders in Wales, Scotland, and London.
Steven promised to focus on winning votes in areas that usually supported the Labour Party. He said UKIP had succeeded in arguing for controlled immigration. He also wanted to focus on helping people improve their lives.
However, on July 31, 2016, the party's main committee stopped him from running.
In October 2016, Steven Woolfe said he had talked with the Conservative Party about joining them. He later decided not to. After two years as a UKIP MEP, he left the party. He said he felt UKIP was facing difficulties. He then served as an independent MEP for the next three years.
After Politics
In 2019, Steven Woolfe became the director of legal affairs for The Centre For Migration & Economic Prosperity. This is a "think tank," which means it's a group that does research and offers ideas. He also works as an editor and communications head for Libertatio.
Personal Life
Steven Woolfe married Fiona Olivia Thomson in 2011. They have a daughter. He is a Catholic.
See also
