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'{{short description|British politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Use British English|date=August 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Julian Knight | honorific-suffix = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] | image = Official portrait of Julian Knight MP crop 2.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2019 | office = Chair of the [[Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee]] | predecessor = [[Damian Collins]] | successor = | term_start = 29 January 2020 | term_end = | office1 = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Solihull (UK Parliament constituency)|Solihull]] | term_start1 = 7 May 2015 | term_end1 = | predecessor1 = [[Lorely Burt]] | successor1 = | majority1 = 21,273 (38.4%) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|1|5|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Chester]], England | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[Independent politician|Independent]] | otherparty = [[Conservative Party(UK)|Conservative]] (until 7 December 2023)}} | spouse = Philippa Harrison | alma_mater = [[University of Hull]] | website = {{url|www.julianknight.org.uk|Official website}} | prior_term = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] <nowiki>}}</nowiki> '''Julian ‘The Fiddler’ Carlton Knight'''<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=61961 |date=19 June 2017 |page=11779}}</ref> (born 5 January 1972) is a British politician and former journalist who has served as the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Solihull (UK Parliament constituency)|Solihull]] since [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]]. He is a member of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000931 | title= Solihull Parliamentary constituency | publisher=BBC | access-date=9 May 2015| work= BBC News }}</ref> On Wednesday 7th December 2022, Julian Knight had the [[Conservative Party whip|Conservative Party Whip]] removed following an official complaint which had been made to the [[Metropolitan Police]]. ==Early life== Knight was born in 1972 in [[Chester]]. He grew up in a lone-parent family.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|last1=Knight|first1=Julian|title=About|url=http://www.julianknight.org.uk/about-julian|website=Julian Knight|access-date=20 September 2015}}</ref> He attended [[Chester Catholic High School]], and went on to study History at the [[University of Hull]], the first in his family to do so,<ref name="auto"/> and graduated with a [[Lower second-class honours|2:2]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}} ==Employment before Parliament== After university, Knight moved to London to find work, doing a variety of jobs before finding a job on a local newspaper. He moved up in journalism over the intervening years, working for the [[BBC]] as personal finance and consumer affairs reporter for five years until 2007, working across online, TV and radio. In 2007 he became the Money and Property Editor of ''[[The Independent on Sunday]]''.<ref name="tobitt">{{cite web|url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/former-bbc-journalist-who-backs-licence-fee-reform-elected-dcms-committee-chairman/|title=Former BBC journalist who backs licence fee reform elected DCMS Committee chairman|first=Charlotte|last=Tobitt|date=30 January 2020|work=Press Gazette}}</ref> In April 2015, Knight was criticised by [[Danny Alexander]], Chief Secretary to the Treasury,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-04-23 |title=Tory candidate for Solihull under fire over book on tax avoidance |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/23/tory-candidate-julian-knight-solihull-criticised-book-tax-avoidance |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> for a book he authored eleven years earlier on [[tax avoidance]]. In his 2004 book, ''Wills, Probate and Inheritance Tax for Dummies'', Knight "sets out ways that hardworking parents can pass on the graft of a lifetime" to their children. In the book, he was critical of the system of [[Inheritance Tax in the United Kingdom|inheritance tax]] that existed at the point of publishing. He distinguished between personal tax avoidance, which he advised families on, and the "aggressive tax avoidance" of some multinational companies.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/23/tory-candidate-julian-knight-solihull-criticised-book-tax-avoidance | title= Tory candidate for Solihull under fire over book on tax avoidance | work=The Guardian | date= 23 April 2015 | access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref> ==Political career== In 2014, Knight was selected to be the Conservative candidate for [[Solihull (UK Parliament constituency)|Solihull]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.solihullboroughconservatives.org.uk/news/solihull-conservatives-select-julian-knight-our-candidate|title=Solihull Conservatives select Julian Knight as our Parliamentary Candidate|website=Solihull Borough|language=en|access-date=9 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.westmidlandsconservatives.com/news/julian-knight-selected-solihull-0|title=Julian Knight selected for Solihull|website=West Midlands|language=en|access-date=9 September 2018}}</ref> a former Conservative safe seat which had been won by the Liberal Democrats in the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 General Election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/elections-and-referendums/past-elections-and-referendums/uk-general-elections/2005-uk-general-election-results/solihull|title=Electoral Commission {{!}} Solihull|website=www.electoralcommission.org.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=9 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lib-dems-hold-inquest-after-their-decapitation-strategy-misses-targets-220427.html|title=Lib Dems hold inquest after their 'decapitation strategy' misses|work=The Independent|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> At the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]] Knight won the seat back for the Conservatives with a majority of 12,902, after an 11.9 per cent swing towards the Conservatives.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000931|title=Solihull parliamentary constituency - Election 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> Prior to the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 UK referendum on European Union membership]], Knight stated he would vote to remain in the EU. <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://solihullobserver.co.uk/news/solihulls-conservative-mp-julian-knight-will-vote-stay-europe/|title=Solihull's Conservative MP Julian Knight will vote to stay in Europe|work=Solihull Observer|date =24 February 2016|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> Knight defended his seat at the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]] and was returned with an increased majority.<ref name="auto1"/> In January 2018, Knight was appointed [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] at the Ministry of Justice<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2018/01/list-of-ppss.html|title=List of PPS's|work=Conservative Home|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> providing support to Ministers. In September 2018 he moved to the Department for Work and Pensions before moving to HM Treasury in January 2019. Knight is a passionate advocate for animal welfare and called for CCTV in slaughterhouses before it was Government policy.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.julianknight.org.uk/news/knight-hails-governments-progress-animal-welfare |title = Knight hails Government's progress on animal welfare}}</ref> Knight also served as the [[Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy]] to [[Mongolia]], where he formed part of a network of parliamentarians with the role to strengthen relations with foreign countries, and aide British businesses in accessing foreign markets.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/trade-envoys|title=Trade envoys|work=GOV.UK|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en}}</ref> In April 2018, Knight made his first visit to the country as Trade Envoy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://president.mn/en/2018/04/06/president-receives-uk-trade-envoy-julian-knight/|title=PRESIDENT RECEIVES UK TRADE ENVOY JULIAN KNIGHT - President of Mongolia|date=6 April 2018|work=President of Mongolia|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> Knight made his final visit in September 2018, and left the post at a later date.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thecea.org.uk/trade-mission-mongolia-16th-21st-september-2018/|title=Trade Mission to Mongolia 16th – 21st September 2018 - CEA: Construction Equipment Association|date=15 August 2018|work=CEA: Construction Equipment Association|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Knight defended his seat during the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 General Election]]. He increased his majority, this time to 21,273.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000931|title=Solihull parliamentary constituency - Election 2019|work=BBC News}}</ref> Labour came second and the Liberal Democrats were placed third.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/general-election-2019-solihull-result-17326399.amp|title = General Election 2019: Solihull result|work=Coventry Telegraph|date = 12 December 2019}}</ref> In December 2021, Knight said there was a "real sense of palpable loss" over the death of six-year-old [[Murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes|Arthur Labinjo-Hughes]] in Solihull. Knight said the sentences given to the killers of the boy were too lenient and he would be referring the sentences to the [[Attorney General's Office (United Kingdom)|Attorney General's Office]] for review under the [[unduly lenient sentence scheme]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Jail terms of boy's killers to be reviewed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-59532071 |work=BBC News |date=4 December 2021}}</ref> In April 2022 following the Prime Minister's ([[Boris Johnson]]) receipt of a fine from the Metropolitan Police Force for breaking [[COVID-19|Covid-19]] laws introduced by Boris Johnson's own Conservative government,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lyons |first=Izzy |last2=Saunt |first2=Raven |date=2022-04-20 |title=How much Boris Johnson was fined and what the law says about Covid fixed penalty notices |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/04/20/how-much-boris-johnson-fined-partygate-lockdown-parties/ |access-date=2022-04-21 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> Knight offered his full support to the Prime Minister.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement from Julian Knight MP |url=https://www.julianknight.org.uk/news/statement-julian-knight-mp |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=Julian Knight MP |language=en}}</ref> ===Committees=== From July 2015 to April 2017, Knight served as a member of the House of Commons [[Communities and Local Government Committee]],<ref name="Julian Knight MP">{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/julian-knight/4410|title=Julian Knight MP|website=UK Parliament|language=en|access-date=9 September 2018}}</ref> during which time he co-sponsored the Government's [[Homelessness Reduction Bill 2016–17|Homelessness Reduction Act 2017]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://solihullobserver.co.uk/news/solihull-mp-julian-knight-has-pledged-to-support-solihull-council-in-its-new-effort-to-tackle-homelessness-in-the-borough/|title=Solihull MP Julian Knight has pledged to support Solihull Council in its new effort to tackle homelessness in the borough|work=Solihull Observer|date=18 January 2017|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> Since December 2016 he has served on the [[Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee|Culture, Media, and Sport Select Committee]], later the [[Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee|Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee]].<ref name="Julian Knight MP"/> In that role he has made several high-profile interventions, including on the BBC gender pay row<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/01/sarah-montague-gobsmacked-bbc-gender-pay-report/|title=Sarah Montague: I was gobsmacked by BBC gender pay report|last=Singh|first=Anita|date=1 February 2018|work=The Telegraph|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/31/world/europe/bbc-gender-pay-carrie-gracie.html|title=BBC Managers Face Barrage of Criticism in Gender Pay Dispute|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en}}</ref> and against [[Facebook]] and digital company [[Cambridge Analytica]] during the committee's inquiry into 'fake news'.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/26/facebook-morality-free-zone-executive-mps-cambridge-analytica|title='Facebook is a morality-free zone': tech chief lambasted by MP|last=Waterson|first=Jim|date=26 April 2018|work=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=9 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/facebook-mp-parliament-hearing-cambridge-analytica-mike-schroepfer-mark-zuckerberg-a8323926.html|title=MPs laugh at Facebook boss during intense grilling in parliament|work=The Independent|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> In January 2020 Knight was elected as Chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. Knight replaced [[Damian Collins]] as chairman.<ref name="tobitt"/> == Other work == Knight has written books on a variety of subjects for the [[For Dummies|''For Dummies'' series]], including the [[European debt crisis|Euro crisis]], Retiring Wealthy and The Royal Wedding.<ref>{{cite web|title=Who is Julian Knight|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/who-julian-knight---five-9212326|website=Birmingham Mail|access-date=20 September 2015|date=8 May 2015}}</ref> Knight has also campaigned locally to prevent the closure of Solihull Police Station, launching an online petition to help.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Collis|first=Emily|date=23 November 2021|title='We've got to fight this' - MP's outrage as Solihull Police Station to close|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/weve-fight-this-mp-julian-22251799|access-date=25 November 2021|website=BirminghamLive|language=en}}</ref> ==Personal life== Knight lives in [[Solihull]]. He is married to Philippa, a former nurse.<ref name="auto"/> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *{{UK MP links |parliament=julian-knight/4410 |publicwhip=Julian_Knight |theywork=julian_knight}} {{s-start}} {{s-par|uk}} {{s-bef|before=[[Lorely Burt]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Solihull (UK Parliament constituency)|Solihull]]|years=[[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]]–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}} {{UKParliamentCommitteeChairs}} {{West Midlands Conservative Party MPs}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Knight, Julian}} [[Category:1972 births]] [[Category:British journalists]] [[Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:The Independent people]] [[Category:UK MPs 2015–2017]] [[Category:UK MPs 2017–2019]] [[Category:UK MPs 2019–present]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Hull]]'