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{{Short description|British politician}}
{{Short description|British politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{2024 UK Commons}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Annalissa Firth
| name = Annalissa Firth
| honorific_suffix = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]]
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Official portrait of Anna Firth MP crop.jpg
| image = Official portrait of Anna Firth MP crop.jpg
| image_size =
| image_size =
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| office = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Southend West (UK Parliament constituency)|Southend West]]
| office = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Southend West (UK Parliament constituency)|Southend West]]
| term_start = 3 February 2022
| term_start = 3 February 2022
⚫
| term_end = 30 May 2024
| term_end = <!-- Add data only when the actual term has ended, not for terms which will end in the future. (Per usage guideline.) -->
⚫
| majority = 12,280 (82.7%)
| predecessor = [[David Amess]]
| predecessor = [[David Amess]]
| successor =
| successor = [[David Burton-Sampson]]
| birth_name = Annalissa Garrett
| birth_name = Annalissa Garrett
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1966}}
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1966}}
| birth_place = [[Leigh-on-Sea]], [[Essex]], England
| birth_place = [[Leigh-on-Sea]], [[Essex]], England
| party = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]
| party = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]
| alma_mater = [[Durham University]]
| alma_mater = [[Durham University]]
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| signature = Anna Firth signature.svg
| signature = Anna Firth signature.svg
}}
}}
'''Annalissa Firth''' ({{nee|'''Garrett'''}}, born 1966) is a British politician and former barrister who has served as the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Southend West (UK Parliament constituency)|Southend West]] since the [[2022 Southend West by-election|2022 by-election]]. A member of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], she was also a councillor on [[Sevenoaks District Council]] between 2011 and 2022.
'''Annalissa Firth''' ({{nee|'''Garrett'''}}, born 1966) is a British politician and former barrister who served as the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Southend West (UK Parliament constituency)|Southend West]] from 2022 to 2024. A member of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], she was also a councillor on [[Sevenoaks District Council]] between 2011 and 2022.


==Early life and career==
==Early life and career==
Annalissa Garrett was born in 1966<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=12 January 2024|url=https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=xOh2aZBcznSAl8intEkUKQ&scan=1|title=Index entry|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref><ref name=BBC/> and grew up in [[Leigh-on-Sea]].<ref name=About/> Her education was at a [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private school]].<ref name=School>{{cite news|date=14 September 2022|accessdate=15 September 2022|url=https://schoolsweek.co.uk/anna-firth-mp-and-founder-invicta-national-academy/|work=Schools Week|title=Anna Firth, MP and founder, Invicta National Academy|last=Staufenberg|first=Jess}}</ref> Her mother was a teacher and her father was an engineer.<ref name=About/><ref name=School/> She has a brother called William.<ref name=School/> Garrett studied law at [[Durham University]].<ref name=About>{{cite web|url=https://www.annafirth.org.uk/about-me|publisher=Anna Firth|title=About me|accessdate=5 July 2022|archive-date=4 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204192051/https://www.annafirth.org.uk/about-me|url-status=live}}</ref>
Annalissa Garrett was born in 1966<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=12 January 2024|url=https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=xOh2aZBcznSAl8intEkUKQ&scan=1|title=Index entry|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref><ref name=BBC/> and grew up in [[Leigh-on-Sea]].<ref name=About/> Her education was at a [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private school]].<ref name=School>{{cite news|date=14 September 2022|accessdate=15 September 2022|url=https://schoolsweek.co.uk/anna-firth-mp-and-founder-invicta-national-academy/|work=Schools Week|title=Anna Firth, MP and founder, Invicta National Academy|last=Staufenberg|first=Jess}}</ref> Her mother was a teacher and her father was an engineer.<ref name=About/><ref name=School/> She has a brother called William.<ref name=School/> Garrett studied law at [[Durham University]], graduating in 1988.<ref name=About>{{cite web|url=https://www.annafirth.org.uk/about-me|publisher=Anna Firth|title=About me|accessdate=5 July 2022|archive-date=4 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204192051/https://www.annafirth.org.uk/about-me|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Class Notes |url=https://www.durham.ac.uk/alumni/community/class-notes/#d.en.1762529 |website=Durham University |access-date=2 July 2024 |language=en-gb}}</ref>


Garrett had a brief career as an investment banker<ref name="About" /><ref name="School" /> before being [[Call to the bar|called to the bar]] in 1991 at [[Inner Temple]]. She specialised in personal injury and professional negligence law.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/barristers-register/9E01873C51558951D6FADEB4F2C1E636.html|title=Miss Annalissa Garrett|accessdate=14 December 2021|publisher=Bar Standards Board|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214222822/https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/barristers-register/9E01873C51558951D6FADEB4F2C1E636.html|archive-date=14 December 2021}}</ref>
Garrett had a brief career as an investment banker<ref name="About" /><ref name="School" /> before being [[Call to the bar|called to the bar]] in 1991 at [[Inner Temple]]. She specialised in personal injury and professional negligence law.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/barristers-register/9E01873C51558951D6FADEB4F2C1E636.html|title=Miss Annalissa Garrett|accessdate=14 December 2021|publisher=Bar Standards Board|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214222822/https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/barristers-register/9E01873C51558951D6FADEB4F2C1E636.html|archive-date=14 December 2021}}</ref>
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Firth was the sixth candidate placed on the Conservative [[Party lists in the 2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|party list]] in [[South East England (European Parliament constituency)|South East England]] for the [[2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2019 European Parliament elections]], but failed to be elected.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 April 2019 |title=2019 European elections: List of candidates for the South East |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48081569 |access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref>
Firth was the sixth candidate placed on the Conservative [[Party lists in the 2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|party list]] in [[South East England (European Parliament constituency)|South East England]] for the [[2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2019 European Parliament elections]], but failed to be elected.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 April 2019 |title=2019 European elections: List of candidates for the South East |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48081569 |access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref>


She was selected as the Conservative candidate for the [[2022 Southend West by-election]] on 11 December 2021.<ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-59621352|title=Conservatives pick candidate for Sir David Amess's seat in Southend West|publisher=BBC News|date=11 December 2021|access-date=4 February 2022|archive-date=1 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201081556/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-59621352|url-status=live}}</ref> The by-election was called after the [[murder of David Amess]], the constituency's incumbent Conservative MP on 15 October 2021.<ref>{{cite news|title=Conservative MP David Amess stabbed in Essex attack|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/15/conservative-mp-david-amess-stabbed-in-essex-attack|date=15 October 2021|last1=Walker|first1=Peter|last2=Dodd|first2=Vikram|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 July 2022|archive-date=17 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017163211/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/15/conservative-mp-david-amess-stabbed-in-essex-attack|url-status=live}}</ref> At the election, Firth was elected to Parliament as MP for [[Southend West (UK Parliament constituency)|Southend West]], winning with 86.1% of the vote and a majority of 12,280.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 January 2022 |title=Statement of persons nominated, notice of poll and situation in polling stations |url=https://www.southend.gov.uk/downloads/file/7258/statement-of-persons-nominated-notice-of-poll-and-situation-of-polling-stations-uk-parliamentary-election-southend-west |accessdate=11 January 2022 |work=Southend Council}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Southend West by-election live updates: Residents vote to elect MP after Sir David Amess' death |url=https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/southend-west-election-live-updates-6593386 |work=[[Essex Live]] |quote=The turnout for the Southend West by election was 24.03 per cent of an electorate of 66,354}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |number=1489409859841929220 |user=BritainElects |title=Southend West parliamentary by-election, result}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=4 February 2022 |title=Election Results Southend West by-election 2022 |url=https://www.southend.gov.uk/elections-registering-vote/election-results-1 |access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref>
She was selected as the Conservative candidate for the [[2022 Southend West by-election]] on 11 December 2021.<ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-59621352|title=Conservatives pick candidate for Sir David Amess's seat in Southend West|publisher=BBC News|date=11 December 2021|access-date=4 February 2022|archive-date=1 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201081556/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-59621352|url-status=live}}</ref> The by-election was called after the [[murder of David Amess]], the constituency's incumbent Conservative MP on 15 October 2021.<ref>{{cite news|title=Conservative MP David Amess stabbed in Essex attack|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/15/conservative-mp-david-amess-stabbed-in-essex-attack|date=15 October 2021|last1=Walker|first1=Peter|last2=Dodd|first2=Vikram|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 July 2022|archive-date=17 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017163211/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/15/conservative-mp-david-amess-stabbed-in-essex-attack|url-status=live}}</ref> All major opposition parties declined to run candidates in the by-election, all but assuring Firth's victory.<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 October 2021|title=Labour, Lib Dems and Greens won't stand candidates in Southend West by-election|url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2021-10-17/labour-and-lib-dems-wont-stand-candidates-in-southend-west-by-election|access-date=30 October 2021|website=ITV News|language=en}}</ref> At the election, Firth was elected to Parliament with 86.1% of the vote and a majority of 12,280.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 January 2022 |title=Statement of persons nominated, notice of poll and situation in polling stations |url=https://www.southend.gov.uk/downloads/file/7258/statement-of-persons-nominated-notice-of-poll-and-situation-of-polling-stations-uk-parliamentary-election-southend-west |accessdate=11 January 2022 |work=Southend Council}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Southend West by-election live updates: Residents vote to elect MP after Sir David Amess' death |url=https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/southend-west-election-live-updates-6593386 |work=[[Essex Live]] |quote=The turnout for the Southend West by election was 24.03 per cent of an electorate of 66,354}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |number=1489409859841929220 |user=BritainElects |title=Southend West parliamentary by-election, result}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=4 February 2022 |title=Election Results Southend West by-election 2022 |url=https://www.southend.gov.uk/elections-registering-vote/election-results-1 |access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref>


Firth has been a member of the [[Education Select Committee]] since March 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4936/career|title=Parliamentary career for Anna Firth|accessdate=5 July 2022|publisher=UK Parliament|archive-date=23 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223053107/https://members.parliament.uk/member/4936/career|url-status=live}}</ref> In her maiden speech on 10 May 2022, she paid tribute to her predecessor as MP, Sir David Amess and his family.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/20128900.anna-firth-pays-tribute-sir-david-maiden-speech/|work=Southend Echo|date=10 May 2022|accessdate=5 July 2022|title=Anna Firth pays tribute to Sir David in maiden speech|archive-date=13 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613004137/https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/20128900.anna-firth-pays-tribute-sir-david-maiden-speech/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Firth has been a member of the [[Education Select Committee]] since March 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4936/career|title=Parliamentary career for Anna Firth|accessdate=5 July 2022|publisher=UK Parliament|archive-date=23 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223053107/https://members.parliament.uk/member/4936/career|url-status=live}}</ref> In her maiden speech on 10 May 2022, she paid tribute to her predecessor as MP, Sir David Amess and his family.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/20128900.anna-firth-pays-tribute-sir-david-maiden-speech/|work=Southend Echo|date=10 May 2022|accessdate=5 July 2022|title=Anna Firth pays tribute to Sir David in maiden speech|archive-date=13 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613004137/https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/20128900.anna-firth-pays-tribute-sir-david-maiden-speech/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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She voiced her support for [[Priti Patel]] in the [[July 2022 Conservative Party leadership election]] on 10 July 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/20268752.southend-mp-calls-priti-patel-next-prime-minister/|work=Southend Echo|title=Southend MP calls for Priti Patel to be next Prime Minister|date=10 July 2022|accessdate=10 September 2022}}</ref> Two days later, Patel announced she would not be a candidate in the election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/priti-patel-tory-leadership-race-split-right-wing-vote|publisher=PoliticsHome|date=12 July 2022|accessdate=10 September 2022|last=Tolhurst|first=Alain|title=Priti Patel Ruled Out Of Tory Leadership Over Fear Of 'Fractured' Right-Wing Vote}}</ref> Firth later backed [[Liz Truss]] in August 2022.<ref>{{cite twitter|number=1556668376730279936|user=Anna_Firth|date=8 August 2022|accessdate=10 September 2022|title=💙So good to welcome @trussliz to South Essex today! 🌞I am supporting #LizForLeader because she will deliver for Britain and #Southend 🇬🇧She is honest, straight-talking and determined – exactly what we need in a Prime Minister...}}</ref> She was then appointed [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] (PPS) to the [[Department for International Trade]] in the [[Truss ministry]].<ref>{{cite news|title=MP Anna Firth accepts new government role but Southend remains her 'guiding principle' |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/22902369.southend-mp-anna-firth-accepts-support-role-liz-truss-government/|access-date=28 December 2022 |work=Southend Echo}}</ref> The following month, after the resignation of Truss and the succession of [[Rishi Sunak]], Firth was appointed PPS to the [[Attorney General for England and Wales]] [[Victoria Prentis]] in the [[Sunak ministry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1120927/PPS_List_November_2022.pdf|title=Parliamentary Private Secretaries – November 2022|publisher=gov.uk|accessdate=12 February 2023}}</ref>
She voiced her support for [[Priti Patel]] in the [[July 2022 Conservative Party leadership election]] on 10 July 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/20268752.southend-mp-calls-priti-patel-next-prime-minister/|work=Southend Echo|title=Southend MP calls for Priti Patel to be next Prime Minister|date=10 July 2022|accessdate=10 September 2022}}</ref> Two days later, Patel announced she would not be a candidate in the election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/priti-patel-tory-leadership-race-split-right-wing-vote|publisher=PoliticsHome|date=12 July 2022|accessdate=10 September 2022|last=Tolhurst|first=Alain|title=Priti Patel Ruled Out Of Tory Leadership Over Fear Of 'Fractured' Right-Wing Vote}}</ref> Firth later backed [[Liz Truss]] in August 2022.<ref>{{cite twitter|number=1556668376730279936|user=Anna_Firth|date=8 August 2022|accessdate=10 September 2022|title=💙So good to welcome @trussliz to South Essex today! 🌞I am supporting #LizForLeader because she will deliver for Britain and #Southend 🇬🇧She is honest, straight-talking and determined – exactly what we need in a Prime Minister...}}</ref> She was then appointed [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] (PPS) to the [[Department for International Trade]] in the [[Truss ministry]].<ref>{{cite news|title=MP Anna Firth accepts new government role but Southend remains her 'guiding principle' |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/22902369.southend-mp-anna-firth-accepts-support-role-liz-truss-government/|access-date=28 December 2022 |work=Southend Echo}}</ref> The following month, after the resignation of Truss and the succession of [[Rishi Sunak]], Firth was appointed PPS to the [[Attorney General for England and Wales]] [[Victoria Prentis]] in the [[Sunak ministry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1120927/PPS_List_November_2022.pdf|title=Parliamentary Private Secretaries – November 2022|publisher=gov.uk|accessdate=12 February 2023}}</ref>

At the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], Firth stood for re-election in the renamed seat of [[Southend West and Leigh (UK Parliament constituency)|Southend West and Leigh]], with new boundaries, but the seat was narrowly won for [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] by [[David Burton-Sampson]], with Firth in second place.<ref>{{cite news |title=Southend West and Leigh - General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001502 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=BBC News}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
She is married to Edward Firth who is a managing director of the investment banking firm [[Keefe, Bruyette & Woods]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cds.sevenoaks.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=128&T=6&J=2|title=Notification of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests|page=2|publisher=Sevenoaks District Council|access-date=5 July 2022|archive-date=14 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214222824/https://cds.sevenoaks.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=128&T=6&J=2|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kbw.com/about-us/our-team/research/ed-firth/|title=Ed Firth|publisher=Keefe, Bruyette & Woods|accessdate=14 December 2021|archive-date=14 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214222822/https://www.kbw.com/about-us/our-team/research/ed-firth/|url-status=live}}</ref> They have three children.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/conservatives-select-candidate-for-key-kent-seat-209642/|title=Canterbury Conservatives select Anna Firth as parliamentary candidate to take on Labour's Rosie Duffield|date=1 August 2019|publisher=Kent Online|last=Hayes|first=Phil}}</ref>
She is married to Edward Firth who is a managing director of the investment banking firm [[Keefe, Bruyette & Woods]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cds.sevenoaks.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=128&T=6&J=2|title=Notification of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests|page=2|publisher=Sevenoaks District Council|access-date=5 July 2022|archive-date=14 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214222824/https://cds.sevenoaks.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=128&T=6&J=2|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kbw.com/about-us/our-team/research/ed-firth/|title=Ed Firth|publisher=Keefe, Bruyette & Woods|accessdate=14 December 2021|archive-date=14 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214222822/https://www.kbw.com/about-us/our-team/research/ed-firth/|url-status=live}}</ref> They have three children.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/conservatives-select-candidate-for-key-kent-seat-209642/|title=Canterbury Conservatives select Anna Firth as parliamentary candidate to take on Labour's Rosie Duffield|date=1 August 2019|publisher=Kent Online|last=Hayes|first=Phil}}</ref>


She is a patron of the [[Music Man Project]], a Southend-based charity that provides musical opportunities to people with learning disabilities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Order, Order! |url=https://themusicmanproject.com/2024/03/25/order-order/ |website=The Music Man Project UK |access-date=26 October 2024 |date=25 March 2024 |quote=Our patron Anna Firth MP}}</ref>

Her daughter Alex is dating international businessman and entrepreneur Teddy MacLachlan.
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{Official website|https://www.annafirth.org.uk/}}
*{{Official website|https://www.annafirth.org.uk/}}
* {{UK MP links
* {{UK MP links
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{{s-bef|before=[[David Amess]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[David Amess]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for [[Southend West (UK Parliament constituency)|Southend West]]|years= [[2022 Southend West by-election|2022]]–present}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for [[Southend West (UK Parliament constituency)|Southend West]]|years= [[2022 Southend West by-election|2022]]–present}}
{{s-non|reason={{nowrap|Constituency abolished}}}}
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{{s-end}}

{{East of England Conservative Party MPs}}


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[[Category:21st-century English women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century English women politicians]]
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[[Category:Alumni of Durham University]]
[[Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]]
[[Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]]
[[Category:Conservative Party (UK) councillors]]
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[[Category:UK MPs 2019–2024]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2019–2024]]
[[Category:Women councillors in England]]
[[Category:Women councillors in England]]
[[Category:Members of the Inner Temple]]
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[[Category:Alumni of St John's College, Durham]]

Latest revision as of 21:08, 2 December 2024

Annalissa Firth
Official portrait, 2022
Member of Parliament
for Southend West
In office
3 February 2022 – 30 May 2024
Preceded byDavid Amess
Succeeded byDavid Burton-Sampson
Personal details
Born
Annalissa Garrett

1966 (age 57–58)
Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England
Political partyConservative
Alma materDurham University
OccupationPolitician and former barrister
Signature

Annalissa Firth (née Garrett, born 1966) is a British politician and former barrister who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Southend West from 2022 to 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, she was also a councillor on Sevenoaks District Council between 2011 and 2022.

Early life and career

[edit]

Annalissa Garrett was born in 1966[1][2] and grew up in Leigh-on-Sea.[3] Her education was at a private school.[4] Her mother was a teacher and her father was an engineer.[3][4] She has a brother called William.[4] Garrett studied law at Durham University, graduating in 1988.[3][5]

Garrett had a brief career as an investment banker[3][4] before being called to the bar in 1991 at Inner Temple. She specialised in personal injury and professional negligence law.[6]

Firth was elected as a councillor representing Brasted, Chevening & Sundridge ward on Sevenoaks District Council in Kent in 2011 and resigned the seat in 2022.[7] She was elected as the National Voluntary Director of the grassroots think-tank Conservative Policy Forum in April 2020 and has also been a board member of the Conservative Environment Network.[8][9] Firth co-founded the online summer school Invicta Academy in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] She supports the expansion of grammar schools in the UK.[4]

Political career

[edit]

At the 2015 general election, Firth stood unsuccessfully for Erith and Thamesmead, finishing second with 27.4% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour Party MP Teresa Pearce.[11][12]

Firth also stood unsuccessfully at the 2019 general election for Canterbury, finishing second with 45.2% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP Rosie Duffield.[13]

Firth was the sixth candidate placed on the Conservative party list in South East England for the 2019 European Parliament elections, but failed to be elected.[14]

She was selected as the Conservative candidate for the 2022 Southend West by-election on 11 December 2021.[2] The by-election was called after the murder of David Amess, the constituency's incumbent Conservative MP on 15 October 2021.[15] All major opposition parties declined to run candidates in the by-election, all but assuring Firth's victory.[16] At the election, Firth was elected to Parliament with 86.1% of the vote and a majority of 12,280.[17][18][19][20]

Firth has been a member of the Education Select Committee since March 2022.[21] In her maiden speech on 10 May 2022, she paid tribute to her predecessor as MP, Sir David Amess and his family.[22]

Firth visited Archie Battersbee, a 12-year-old boy from Southend at the centre of a life-support withdrawal dispute, in June 2022 and contributed to a fundraiser for him.[23] She criticised how the case was handled stating, "The state process for dealing with the withdrawal of life support for a child where there is a dispute between the parents and the hospital is just not appropriate", and asked for a meeting with the then Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Steve Barclay in August 2022.[24]

She voiced her support for Priti Patel in the July 2022 Conservative Party leadership election on 10 July 2022.[25] Two days later, Patel announced she would not be a candidate in the election.[26] Firth later backed Liz Truss in August 2022.[27] She was then appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Department for International Trade in the Truss ministry.[28] The following month, after the resignation of Truss and the succession of Rishi Sunak, Firth was appointed PPS to the Attorney General for England and Wales Victoria Prentis in the Sunak ministry.[29]

At the 2024 general election, Firth stood for re-election in the renamed seat of Southend West and Leigh, with new boundaries, but the seat was narrowly won for Labour by David Burton-Sampson, with Firth in second place.[30]

Personal life

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She is married to Edward Firth who is a managing director of the investment banking firm Keefe, Bruyette & Woods.[31][32] They have three children.[33]

She is a patron of the Music Man Project, a Southend-based charity that provides musical opportunities to people with learning disabilities.[34]

Her daughter Alex is dating international businessman and entrepreneur Teddy MacLachlan.

References

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  1. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Conservatives pick candidate for Sir David Amess's seat in Southend West". BBC News. 11 December 2021. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "About me". Anna Firth. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e Staufenberg, Jess (14 September 2022). "Anna Firth, MP and founder, Invicta National Academy". Schools Week. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Class Notes". Durham University. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Miss Annalissa Garrett". Bar Standards Board. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Election results". Sevenoaks District Council. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Anna Firth is elected as new Voluntary Director". Conservative Policy Forum. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Our People". Conservative Environment Network. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Online summer school Invicta Academy oversubscribed with thousands of pupils signing up". Kent Online. 27 July 2020. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  12. ^ 9Jul15
  13. ^ "Canterbury Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  14. ^ "2019 European elections: List of candidates for the South East". BBC News. 27 April 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  15. ^ Walker, Peter; Dodd, Vikram (15 October 2021). "Conservative MP David Amess stabbed in Essex attack". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  16. ^ "Labour, Lib Dems and Greens won't stand candidates in Southend West by-election". ITV News. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  17. ^ "Statement of persons nominated, notice of poll and situation in polling stations". Southend Council. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Southend West by-election live updates: Residents vote to elect MP after Sir David Amess' death". Essex Live. The turnout for the Southend West by election was 24.03 per cent of an electorate of 66,354
  19. ^ @BritainElects (4 February 2022). "Southend West parliamentary by-election, result" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "Election Results Southend West by-election 2022". 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  21. ^ "Parliamentary career for Anna Firth". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  22. ^ "Anna Firth pays tribute to Sir David in maiden speech". Southend Echo. 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  23. ^ "Archie Battersbee visited in hospital by Southend MP Anna Firth". Southend Echo. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  24. ^ "Anna Firth wants Archie Battersbee meeting with Health Secretary". Southend Echo. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  25. ^ "Southend MP calls for Priti Patel to be next Prime Minister". Southend Echo. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  26. ^ Tolhurst, Alain (12 July 2022). "Priti Patel Ruled Out Of Tory Leadership Over Fear Of 'Fractured' Right-Wing Vote". PoliticsHome. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  27. ^ @Anna_Firth (8 August 2022). "💙So good to welcome @trussliz to South Essex today! 🌞I am supporting #LizForLeader because she will deliver for Britain and #Southend 🇬🇧She is honest, straight-talking and determined – exactly what we need in a Prime Minister..." (Tweet). Retrieved 10 September 2022 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ "MP Anna Firth accepts new government role but Southend remains her 'guiding principle'". Southend Echo. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  29. ^ "Parliamentary Private Secretaries – November 2022" (PDF). gov.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  30. ^ "Southend West and Leigh - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  31. ^ "Notification of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests". Sevenoaks District Council. p. 2. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  32. ^ "Ed Firth". Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  33. ^ Hayes, Phil (1 August 2019). "Canterbury Conservatives select Anna Firth as parliamentary candidate to take on Labour's Rosie Duffield". Kent Online.
  34. ^ "Order, Order!". The Music Man Project UK. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024. Our patron Anna Firth MP
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