Chris Evans | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2017 | |||||||||||
| Member of Parliament | |||||||||||
| Assumed office 6 May 2010 | |||||||||||
| Preceded by | Don Touhig | ||||||||||
| Constituency | Islwyn (2010–2024) Caerphilly (2024–present) | ||||||||||
| Majority | 6,419 (16.8%) | ||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||
| Born | Christopher James Evans (1977-07-17)17 July 1977 (age 48) Llwynypia,Mid Glamorgan, Wales | ||||||||||
| Political party | Labour Co-op | ||||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||||
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Carmarthen | ||||||||||
| Website | chrisevansmp | ||||||||||
Christopher James Evans (born 17 July 1977) is a British politician serving asMember of Parliament (MP) forCaerphilly since 2024, and previously forIslwyn from 2010 to 2024. He is a member of theLabour and Co-operative parties.
Chris Evans was born on 17 July 1977 inLlwynypia,Mid Glamorgan and raised inRhondda.[1][2] He graduated with a history degree fromTrinity College, Carmarthen.[3]
At the age of 13 he suffered a serious leg injury in a road traffic collision and underwent months of recovery: he later stated that the experience, on top of the stress caused by his parents' divorce, had caused him to developbody dysmorphic disorder.[4]
Before being elected to Parliament he worked as a bookmaker, in a bank and as a trade union official. He worked as a parliamentary researcher to then-Islwyn MPDon Touhig for four years.[5]
He was the Labour candidate forCheltenham at the2005 general election, but lost. However, at the2010 general election he was elected MP for the safe Labour seat ofIslwyn.[6]
His maiden speech focused on affordable lending and pay day loans.[7] Since being elected he has campaigned against fuel poverty[8][9][10] and in January 2011 led a Westminster Hall debate and spoke out against energy price rises. He is also a campaigner for the introduction of a Presumption of Death Act.[11]
He led a Westminster Hall debate on employment opportunities for people withinflammatory bowel disease.[12]
Evans was a member of the Justice Select Committee.[13] In July 2012, after two years as an MP, he was promoted to the ShadowDepartment of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs asParliamentary Private Secretary to shadow Secretary of StateMary Creagh[14] Following a reshuffle in October 2013, Evans joined Labour's Shadow Treasury Team as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Chief Secretary to the Treasury,Chris Leslie.[15]
He supportedOwen Smith in the failed attempt to replaceJeremy Corbyn in the2016 Labour Party (UK) leadership election.[16]
In March 2012, Evans introduced a ten-minute rule bill called 'The Banking Responsibility and Disclosure Bill' which aimed to tackle the growing problem of financial exclusion to ensure that banks are responsible for their actions. He has written several articles on this topic.[17]
On 19 January 2012, Evans said that he had been attacked by a dog which left a one-inch scar on his middle finger as he called on the government to take action against irresponsible dog owners.[18] Since then, he has been campaigning to promote responsible dog ownership.[19] In May 2012 he held a Westminster Hall debate on dangerous dog legislation and called on the government to introduce the compulsory microchipping of all dogs, recorded by a single national database.[20][needs update]
In 2013, Evans launched a work experience program in Islwyn to help combat the problem of youth unemployment. Working alongside 200 local businesses, the scheme offers 6–8 week work placements for 18 to 24-year-olds out of work. The Islwyn Work Experience Programme is voluntary with applicants receiving additional help from Job Centre Plus to continue looking for permanent work.[21] It was launched alongside local businesses at a media event at the Crosskeys campus ofColeg Gwent.[22]
In September 2020, Evans was appointed a vice-chair of Labour Friends of Israel.[23]
With his constituency being abolished by the2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, Evans successfully contestedCaerphilly at the2024 general election.[24]
Evans was promoted to the position of Shadow Minister for Defence Procurement in the minor May 2021 reshuffle, filling the vacant position followingKhalid Mahmood's resignation a month earlier.[25] This role shadows the Minister for Defence Procurement at the Ministry of Defence who has responsibility for the Defence Equipment Plan, relations with the defence industry and exports, science and technology.[26] Evans has been a member of Labour's Shadow Defence Team since 2020 when he became Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence.
In the2023 British shadow cabinet reshuffle, he became Shadow Minister for Social Security.[27]
Evans married Julia Ockenden, a former head of public affairs at theBBC, in December 2013.[28]
He is a published author whose work includes biographies of football managerDon Revie and boxerFreddie Mills.[29][30]
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| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forIslwyn 2010–2024 | Constituency abolished |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forCaerphilly 2024–present | Incumbent |
