Maria Caulfield was elected as the Conservative Party MP for Lewes in 2015, being reelected in 2019 with a majority of 2,457.
The constituency of Lewes is found on the East Sussex Coast between Eastbourne and Brighton, and includes the seaside resort of Seaford, the port of Newhaven, a number of rural villages in the South Downs, and the County town of Lewes. A relatively affluent constituency, this has been a long standing Liberal Democrat and Conservative marginal constituency. Having been held by the Lib Dems between 1997 and 2015, it has been narrowly won by the Conservatives ever since.
In February 2023, Caulfield was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Women) in the Department for Business and Trade, in addition to her role as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department of Health and Social Care. She has held the latter post since October 2022.
- She previously served as Minister of State at the Department of Health and Social Care between July and September 2022, as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health between September 2021 and July 2022, and as an assistant government whip between 2019 and 2021.
Caulfield was born in 1973, and grew up on a council estate in Wandsworth, London.
Prior to being elected to Parliament, Maria was a nurse at the Royal Marsden hospital in Chelsea, where she led a specialist breast cancer research team. Caulfield is a Breast Cancer Now ambassador. Her own mother died of breast cancer when she was a teenager.
According to the Register of Members Interests, she continued working at the Marsden from time to time during 2020, undertaking a number of 12 hour shifts.
She served on Brighton and Hove Council between 2007 and 2011.
Caufield is a Catholic, and is a member of the Conservative Christian Fellowship (CCF). She is in favour of reducing the time limit on abortion.
Caulfield was a supporter of Brexit, and in 2018 resigned as Vice Chair of the Conservative Party in protest at Theresa May’s then Brexit strategy.
According to the Register of Members Interests, she employs her partner, Steve Bell, as Office Manager.
Email: maria.caulfield.mp@parliament.uk
Personal Website: http://www.mariacaulfield.co.uk/contact
Twitter: @mariacaulfield
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mariacaulfieldlewes
