Full Biography

Timothy Paul Loughton BA, (First Class Hons) FSA
Long term former MP and Minister

 

Profile

Born, educated and brought up in Sussex, Tim spent 16 years in financial services in the City of London before switching from a lifelong interest in politics from the voluntary Conservative Party to full-time MP. Elected to Parliament as Member for East Worthing & Shoreham May 1997, he was re-elected at every election since before standing down at the July 2024 General Election. Spent half of that time on the frontbench primarily as Shadow Education, and then Minister for Children. In addition, he has been an adviser and advisory board chair to social care and education businesses, involving adults with learning disabilities, SEN and children in care. He is also a trustee of various charities in the culture and education field.

 

Beginnings

Timothy Paul Loughton, born 30th May, 1962, Eastbourne, Sussex. British National.

 

Married

Elizabeth MacLauchlan 1992. One son, two daughters

 

Education

  • Priory School, Lewes, Sussex. 1973-1980
  • University of Warwick (BA First Class Honours Classical Civilisation) 1980-1983
  • Clare College, Cambridge (Mesopotamian Archaeology) 1983-84

 

Career

Director Fleming Private Asset Management 1992 -2000

In a sixteen-year career in finance in the City Tim managed many high profile and high net worth clients, organisations and charities. He was also involved with the philanthropic side of the company as major donors to the arts and other good causes.

  • Member Securities Institute MSi (dip)
  • Member Securities and Futures Association Working Party on Training
  • Non-Executive director Netlink – internet start-up company 1996-1999. Successfully sold to an American company which floated on Nasdaq in 2000.

 

Political Career - 1977 to date

  • Conservative Party activist since age of 15, held senior positions at youth, student, constituency, regional, national, parliamentary and ministerial levels. Parliamentary Candidate at April 1992 General Election in Sheffield Brightside.
  • Selected as Parliamentary Candidate for East Worthing & Shoreham constituency, 1995.
  • Chairman Conservative Disability Group 1998-2006 
    Member European Standing Committee ‘C’ 1999-2001 
    Member Environmental Audit Select Committee 1997 - 2001
    Shadow Minister for Environment, Transport and the Regions responsible for urban regeneration, housing and the regions 2000-2001
    Shadow Health and Social Care Minister September 2001-2003
    Shadow Children's Minister November 2003 - 2010
    Parliamentary Under Secretary for Children and Families 2010-2012
  • Commissioned by Eden & Partners, provider of specialist training and leadership programmes to promote understanding of, and engagement with, Westminster political institutions, (including Select Committee appearances) amongst senior NHS managers and clinicians


As the longstanding Shadow Minister and then Minister for Children Tim oversaw a major overhaul of the child safeguarding system in the UK, following several child abuse scandals. This involved reform of the social work profession, overhaul of adoption and children in care sectors and roll-out of the Government’s child sexual exploitation strategy. He also chaired UKCCIS (UK Council on Child Internet Safety) bringing together major internet industry players, academics, children’s charities and safeguarding organisations in the early regulation of internet exposure to children and young people.

After his time as Shadow Minister and then Minister for Children and Families Tim resumed his work with various All Party Parliamentary Groups around Children’s Social Care, youth issues, early years and mental health. That has included a wide involvement with a great many charity, business, independent and other organisations and lobby groups across those sectors. They produced reports on the state of children’s social care, bringing together experts and lobby Government for legislative and regulatory changes. The First 1001 Days APPG which is run with the Parent Infant Foundation as Secretariat and which Tim chaired for 6 years, has been particularly active and successful in prompting the previous and current Government’s Best Start in Life programme for early years and perinatal mental health.

  • Deputy Chair and Acting Chair Home Affairs Select Committee 2014-July 2024 (extensive experience across this vast Government department from immigration and asylum to policing, fraud, security, trafficking, safeguarding, drugs, terrorism etc) 
  • Executive Member Conservative Environment Network
  • Piloted transformational Civil Partnerships, Marriages & Deaths (private members) Act extending civil partnerships to opposite sex couples; establishing baby loss certificates; including mothers on marriage records and enabling coroners to investigate stillbirths
  • From 2022 to date, Chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission

All Party Parliamentary Group officerships     

  • Chairman All Party Parliamentary Group for Archaeology
  • Chairman APPG for the British Museum
  • Chairman APPG Tibet, Armenia and Madagascar. Officer of various other country groups.
  • Co-Chairman APPG Mindfulness
  • Inter Parliamentary Union officer leading numerous overseas parliamentary delegations
  • Co-Chairman APPG Children
  • Chairman APPG Conception to Age Two – The first 1001 days
  • Vice Chairman APPG Youth; APPG Looked After Children and APPG Refugees

 

Public and Charitable Offices include:

Previous:

  • Governor Battersea Technology College
  • Governor and Chairman Finance Committee Latchmere Primary School, Battersea.
  • Local Authority appointee to Wandsworth Community Health Council
  • Member Wandsworth Health Authority Substance Misuse Committee
  • Chairman Parent Infant Foundation (national mental health charity) 2014-2020
  • Founder and Chair of Board of Trustees of Ropetackle Arts Centre (arts charity)
  • Trustee of The Sir Heinz Koeppler Trust for Wilton Park, the FCDO’s global forum.
  • Member of Court of Sussex University

Current:

  • Founder and trustee of EYE (Eco, Young & Engaged) Project (youth environmental charity) established 2008.
  • Member Advisory Panel on Children’s Viewing for British Board of Film Classification
  • Patron Positive for Youth Awards
  • Patron the Fatherhood Institute
  • Ambassador for youth charity Ambition
  • Patron Grandparents’ Association
  • Global Change Ambassador for Round Table Global
  • Patron Social Worker of the Year Awards
  • Patron St Barnabas Hospice, Worthing
  • Patron of Canadian Roots UK
  • Trustee The HMS Wellington Trust
  • President Sussex Division of the Royal British Legion

 

Other Interests

  • Archaeology: Member Sussex Archaeological Society since 1974. 
  • Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries since 2015.
  • Sussex Downs, English wine, travel, hockey, tennis, skiing. Member South Downs Society; Member Friends of British Museum; Member National Trust; Member Sussex County Cricket Club; Member Friends of the South Downs.