Brendan Clarke-Smith

Named by The Guardian as one of the “most controversial” new Conservative MPs, Brendan Clarke-Smith took the seat of Bassetlaw in 2019 (the first time the Conservatives had won the seat since 1924). A brexiter and member of the Bassetlaw Vote Leave campaign, Clarke-Smith was a strong candidate in a 70% Leave constituency, and won with an 18.4% swing. Clarke-Smith grew up in Nottingham, and became the first generation in his family to attend university, before becoming a teacher. Following election as one of the country’s youngest councillors (at 22), Clarke-Smith has been described as a “Red Wall Tory MP” and, aside from Brexit, has pledged to improve both the NHS and local education. Currently sitting on the International Development Committee and the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, Clarke-Smith has been outspoken on a number of issues, including describing foodbanks as “political weapons” (suggesting that “it is simply not true” that “people can’t afford to buy food on a regular basis”) and, in October 2020, vocally opposing Labour’s motion to offer children free lunches during school holidays (arguing that “absent [parents] should take some responsibility for their children”).