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| Claire Perry (politician) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Claire Perry |
| Birth date | 1974-12-03 |
| Birth place | London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Politician; Businessperson; Consultant |
| Party | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Alma mater | Royal Holloway, University of London; London School of Economics |
Claire Perry (politician) is a British former Member of Parliament and Conservative politician who represented Devizes from 2010 to 2019. She served in ministerial office in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and held roles relating to energy, climate change, and cyber security. Perry's career spans finance, journalism, consultancy and frontline politics, with involvement in national and international initiatives on climate change, energy policy, and digital strategy.
Perry was born in Wimbledon, London and educated at Queen's College, London before reading economics at Royal Holloway, University of London and undertaking postgraduate study at the London School of Economics. During her student years she became involved with Conservative student organisations and worked on campaigns associated with the Conservative Party (UK). Her early influences included exposure to Thatcherism, debates around European Union membership, and the evolving debates on environmental policy in the late 1990s.
Before entering Parliament, Perry worked in the City of London for HSBC, where she was involved with corporate banking and relationship management, and later moved into management consultancy and corporate strategy. She held positions at firms that engaged with clients across the energy sector, telecommunications, and financial services, providing advisory services on market regulation, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. Perry also contributed commentary to outlets such as The Daily Telegraph, The Times, and appeared on broadcasts with organisations including the BBC, where she discussed fiscal policy, business regulation, and infrastructure investment. Her consultancy work included advising on public–private partnerships and engagement with trade bodies such as the Confederation of British Industry and the Federation of Small Businesses.
Perry was selected as the Conservative candidate for Devizes and was elected to the House of Commons in the 2010 United Kingdom general election, defeating the sitting Liberal Democrat representative. She served on select committees and all-party parliamentary groups including those focused on energy security, water policy, and digital infrastructure. Perry campaigned on local issues affecting Wiltshire, such as rural broadband rollout, transport infrastructure improvements including the A303 road, and healthcare provision linked to NHS Wiltshire. She was re-elected in the 2015 United Kingdom general election and the 2017 United Kingdom general election before standing down ahead of the 2019 United Kingdom general election.
In government, Perry was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and later Minister of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change and subsequently at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Her brief covered energy markets, climate negotiations linked to UNFCCC processes, clean growth strategies, and resilience of critical national infrastructure such as electricity grid and telecommunications networks. Perry launched initiatives to promote investment in low-carbon technologies, engaged with International Energy Agency stakeholders, and chaired working groups on cyber security linked to the National Cyber Security Centre and GCHQ engagement with industry. She represented the UK in international forums including meetings associated with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and bilateral discussions with counterparts from France, Germany, United States, and China on energy transition.
Perry advocated for market-based approaches to decarbonisation, supported investment incentives for renewable energy and nuclear power, and backed regulatory reforms to encourage private capital into infrastructure projects. She took public stances on Brexit, initially supporting Remain in the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum debates before engaging in cross-party discussions on the withdrawal process. Controversies during her career included criticism over a reported exchange with a fellow MP that led to an apology, scrutiny over ministerial use of departmental resources in relation to private correspondence, and debate over comments on climate policy timing during international conferences. Her handling of cyber security briefings and interventions in planning decisions provoked media attention and parliamentary questions from opposition MPs including members of the Labour Party (UK), Liberal Democrats (UK), and Scottish National Party.
Perry is married and has children; her family life has been based in Wiltshire during her tenure as MP for Devizes. Outside politics she has been associated with charitable and cultural organisations, including trusteeships and patronage roles with local heritage groups and national bodies concerned with climate advocacy and rural communities. After leaving Parliament she returned to the private sector and advisory roles, taking positions that bridged energy, technology and finance and engaging with entities such as investment funds, industry trade associations, and international consultancies.
Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs Category:People from Wimbledon Category:Alumni of Royal Holloway, University of London Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics