Toby Perkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Toby Perkins
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Official portrait, 2025
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| Chair of the Environmental Audit Select Committee | |
| Assumed office 11 September 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Philip Dunne |
| Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs | |
| In office 5 September 2023 – 5 July 2024 |
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| Leader | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Shadow Minister for Apprenticeships and Lifelong Learning | |
| In office 9 April 2020 – 5 September 2023 |
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| Leader | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Seema Malhotra |
| Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces | |
| In office 14 September 2015 – 27 June 2016 |
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| Leader | Jeremy Corbyn |
| Preceded by | Alison Seabeck |
| Succeeded by | Wayne David |
| Shadow Minister for Small Business | |
| In office 7 October 2011 – 14 September 2015 |
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| Leader | Ed Miliband |
| Preceded by | Chuka Umunna |
| Succeeded by | Bill Esterson |
| Member of Parliament for Chesterfield |
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| Assumed office 6 May 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Paul Holmes |
| Majority | 10,820 (26.1%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 August 1970 Reading, Berkshire, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Children | 2 |
| Residences | Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England |
| Occupation | Politician |
Toby Perkins, born on August 12, 1970, is a British politician from the Labour Party. He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Chesterfield since 2010. In September 2024, he became the chair of the Environmental Audit Select Committee.
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Early Life and Career
Toby Perkins was born in Reading on August 12, 1970. He went to Trinity Catholic School and Silverdale Comprehensive School. Before becoming an MP in 2010, he worked in IT sales. He also started a business that sold rugby products. From 2003 to 2011, Perkins was a local councillor for Rother Ward on Chesterfield Borough Council.
Parliamentary Career
Becoming an MP
In the 2010 general election, Toby Perkins was elected as the MP for Chesterfield. He won against the Liberal Democrat MP, Paul Holmes. Perkins received 39% of the votes. After being elected, he asked a question during David Cameron's first Prime Minister's Questions. The Financial Times newspaper even called him one of the best new MPs in the first 100 days of Parliament.
Roles in Government and Opposition
Perkins supported David Miliband for the Labour Party leadership. Under Ed Miliband, he became a Shadow Education Minister in September 2010. This meant he spoke for the Labour Party on education issues. In 2011, he moved to the Shadow Business team. Here, he was the Shadow Minister for Enterprise and Small Business. He worked on policies for small businesses and how they get money.
In July 2014, Perkins was chosen as one of three Deputy Chairs for the Labour Party's 2015 general election campaign. He also helped with earlier by-election campaigns.
Re-elections and Other Roles
Toby Perkins was re-elected as MP for Chesterfield in the 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2024 general elections. Each time, he continued to represent the people of Chesterfield in Parliament.
He is part of groups like Labour Friends of Israel and Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East. He also chairs the All Party Parliamentary Pub Group and the All Party Parliamentary group on Tennis. From 2016 to 2020, he chaired the Labour Friends of the Forces.
Key Debates and Campaigns
In Parliament, Perkins has led important debates for the Labour Party. These included discussions on rules for pub companies and Sunday trading laws. He also helped stop plans to close 18 fire stations in Derbyshire.
In 2016, he suggested that "God Save the Queen" should no longer be the anthem for English sports teams. This idea was part of a special bill he proposed.
Perkins was a Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces under Jeremy Corbyn. However, he resigned from this role in June 2016. He then supported Owen Smith in the Labour leadership election that year. Later, he supported Keir Starmer in the 2020 Labour Party leadership contest.
He campaigned for the UK to stay in the European Union before the EU Referendum in June 2016.
In April 2020, Perkins became the Shadow Minister for Apprenticeships and Lifelong Learning. This role focused on education and training for jobs. In 2023, he became the Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs.
On September 11, 2024, Toby Perkins was elected as the chair of the Environmental Audit Select Committee. This committee looks at how government policies affect the environment.
Personal Life
Toby Perkins has two children. He lives in Chesterfield, England.
