John Stevenson

Prior to launching his political career, John Stevenson attended Chester College where he studied Law, subsequently qualifying as a solicitor in 1990. He went on to become a partner at Bendles Solicitors in Carlisle. In 1998, Stevenson unsuccessfully ran as a Conservative candidate for the Denton Holme ward on Carlisle City Council. However, he was elected a year later to the council’s Stanwix Urban ward, where he remained until his resignation in 2010. That year, Stevenson became the first Conservative MP to be elected in the constituency of Carlisle since 1959 after winning the seat from Labour’s Eric Martlew with a majority of 853. This majority was increased to 2,774 in 2015, later rocketing to 8,319 in 2019’s general election. Stevenson campaigned to remain within the EU in the 2016 referendum, despite his constituency voting Leave; he maintains that he will support the “mandate from the British people.” A member of the Church of Scotland, Stevenson has voted against same-sex marriage. He has served on the Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Privileges Committee, the Committee on Standards and in 2020, joined the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee.