Oliver Dowden
 Oliver Dowden      (politician) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 1 August 1978 England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge/Trinity Hall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Blythe Dowden | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of | Hill & Knowlton Strategies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Party | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PR-company Hill and Knowlton, then UK media minister
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Oliver James Dowden [1] was deputy campaigns director of the Conservative Party before joining the infamous lobbying firm Hill and Knowlton in 2007. He was Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from 2020 to 2021.
Contents
Background
He studied Law at Cambridge.
Career
Dowden joined the Conservative Research Department in 2004, moving to PR company Hill & Knowlton in 2007, before returning to the Conservative Party in 2009.[2]
He then worked as a special adviser and David Cameron's deputy chief of staff, where he said most of his time was spent on "day-to-day crisis management".[3][4] Dowden was regarded as having expertise in the attacking form of political communications, leading to comparisons with Alastair Campbell.
He was elected MP for Hertsmere in the 2015 general election, with a majority of 18,461 votes.[5]
While standing as an MP, among the policy priorities Dowden highlighted in his campaign were improving transport infrastructure, preserving green belt land and improving education.[6] Dowden opposed Brexit prior to the 2016 referendum.[7]
In January 2018, Dowden was promoted to Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office, as part of Theresa May's cabinet reshuffle.[8]
Appointed Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General by incoming Prime Minister Boris Johnson on 24 July 2019, Dowden was sworn of the Privy Council the next day.[9]
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
On 13 February 2020, Dowden was appointed Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, succeeding Baroness Morgan of Cotes, who resigned from HM Cabinet.[10]
On 10 September 2021, he said that Vaccine passports should be used for future public health emergencies.[11]
Honours
He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2015 Dissolution Honours List on 27 August 2015.[12]
References
- ↑ https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8256/CBP-8256.pdf
- ↑ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/olive-in-charge-after-no-10-shakeup-8210440.html
- ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2221334/Oliver-Dowden-David-Camerons-aide-Olive-finds-happening-politics-listening-radio.html
- ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/uk-politics-video/9624396/David-Camerons-special-adviser-in-US-television-gaffe.html
- ↑ https://electionresults.parliament.uk/election/2015-05-07/results/Location/Constituency/Hertsmere
- ↑ https://www1.dehavilland.co.uk/election-blog/meet-mps-profiling-conservative-2015-intake
- ↑ http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/
- ↑ https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/hertsmere-mp-oliver-dowden-promoted-in-cabinet-reshuffle-1-5348961
- ↑ http://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019-07-25-List-of-Business.pdf |date=2019
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/people/dowden
- ↑ https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-extension-to-use-of-vaccine-passports-will-be-looked-at-if-there-is-a-public-health-need-oliver-dowden-says-12403610
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dissolution-honours-2015
