Richard Graham was elected as Conservative MP for Gloucester in 2010, being reelected in 2019 with a majority of 10,277.
The constituency of Gloucester is a compact city based around the cathedral city of Gloucestershire. With the city of Gloucester containing over 150,000 people and thus too big to constitute a constituency on its own, this seat excludes some of the north and eastern suburbs of the city. Gloucester is a classic swing marginal seat which has been won consistently by whichever party has formed the government of the day since 1979. Some 59% of the electorate here back Leave in the 2016 EU referendum.
Born in 1958, Graham was educated at Eton and Oxford University.
Before entering Parliament he worked for the Swire Group, and was the Manager of the airline Cathay Pacific in the Philippines. He also worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth office, including as British Trade Commissioner for China, and First Secretary at the British embassy in Beijing.
Mr Graham was previously the UK trade for South East Asia, but resigned in July 2022 in protest as Boris Johnson continuing to remain as prime minister.
Graham also once worked as Head of International Business for Baring Asset Management, and as director of The Greater China Fund Inc and Chairman of the International Financial Services Ltd Pensions Group.
Graham was the founder Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and Vice Chairman of the Board of Airline Representatives in the Philippines.
He was also previously a Councillor on Cotswold District Council between 2003 and 2017.
Graham supported Remain in the 2016 EU referendum, and backed Jeremy Hunt in the 2019 Conservative leadership election.
In Parliament, Graham has been involved in a number of campaigns including around changing the law on causing serious injury by driving when uninsured and drunk; on doubling the maximum sentence for the worst stalking offences; and on abolishing visa fees for Commonwealth service people seeking to bring their families to Britain.
Graham was appointed Chairman of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in 2018. This non-departmental government body funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office focuses on helping to strengthen democracy abroad.
He was previously a Director of the Great Britain China centre, another non-departmental government body.
Richard Graham is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on China; Indonesia; and Marine Energy. He Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Archives and History.
Graham speaks a massive eight languages. He plays cricket for Gloucester City cricket club, and also enjoys watching rugby. He is married with three children.
Email: richard.graham.mp@parliament.uk
Personal Website: www.richardgraham.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RichardGrahamMP
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/richard4gloucester
