PoliticsUK

Name: William Croft, MP
Age: 38 (Born November 13, 1963)
Wife: Olivia (Liv) Croft
Children: Daniel Croft (12), Madeleine Croft (10), Henry Croft (8)
Religion: Anglican (Church of England)
Avatar: Justin Trudeau

Constituency: Chipping Barnet (since 1997)
Party: Conservative
Faction: No Turning Back

Family Background
- Born to a single mother in London (Woolwich, specifically)
- Working Class Family
- Mother worked as a nurse
- Both of Croft’s grandparents served in WW2, with his mother’s dad dying in combat

Education
- Attended Bexley Grammar School
- Received a Bachelors from LSE in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (graduated in 1984)

Career
- Joined the Royal Air Force after graduating university
- Rose to the rank of Group Captain
- Was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for leadership in combat during the Gulf War
- Honorably discharged in 1995, at which point Croft co-founded Project Valour with other soldiers, an organization that supports veterans transitioning back into life and work at home in Britain

Parliamentary Career

MP for Chipping Barnet (1997-)
Constitutional Affairs Spokesperson (1997-1998)
Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1998-1999)
Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1999-)

Total Points: 98

Bio


William Croft, referred to as “Will” by his friends and colleagues, was born in the Woolwich neighborhood of London. Raised by a single mother, who often relied on neighbors to help watch William while she worked shifts as a nurse, his early life was marked by a great childhood despite his family’s economic hardships. Croft was born into a working class family, with he and his mother facing the same challenges that many other working class British families dealt with in the 1970s. Seeking a better education for her child than the local state school could provide, Croft was enrolled in Bexley Grammar School where he succeeded academically and thrived amongst his peers.

Upon graduating from Bexley, Croft won a scholarship to study Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at the London School of Economics. It was there that he sharpened his political and rhetorical acumen, eventually being elected president of the university's Conservative Association. He eagerly participated as a volunteer for the Conservative’s 1983 general election campaign, enthusiastically supporting Margaret Thatcher and her free enterprise agenda.

While initially hoping to work as a party staffer, Croft was inspired to follow in the footsteps of his grandparents who had served in the Armed Forces during World War II and enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1984. Stationed at RAF base Lossiemouth, Croft excelled in his training and was formally commissioned as a full time fighter jet pilot. During the 1980s Croft was stationed at a number of bases outside of mainland Britain, including Mountpleasant and Gibraltar, where he participated in joint military exercises with foreign Air Forces and honed his combat skills. Eventually rising to the rank of Group Captain, Croft was deployed to the Middle East during Operation Granby, the UK’s military campaign during the Gulf War. He would later be awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for his service during the war.

Returning to Britain after the conflict, Croft continued to serve in the Royal Air Force until eventually resigning his commission in 1995. Upon resigning, Croft and a few of his former RAF colleagues formed Project Valour, a charitable organization aimed at supporting retired service members transition back into normal life. After reconnecting with his university friends, some of who had become Conservative Party staffers, Croft was considered and eventually selected as the Party’s candidate for the safe seat of Chipping Barnet in the 1997 general election. Despite the massive swing to the Labour Party seen across the country, Croft, an adept campaigner, was able to win his election and become a Member of Parliament.

Croft was determined to hit the ground running, and gave a series of high profile speeches as a backbencher on topics ranging from civil liberties, to early childhood education, to the need to continue to invest in and grow Britain’s armed forces. William Hague identified Croft as one in a slew of backbenchers he thought had the talent to serve on the front bench, and appointed him to the junior role of Constitutional Affairs Spokesperson, before elevating him to Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. In 1990, Croft was elevated again to the role of Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Employment, a position he currently holds.

Politically, William Croft would be best described as a rabble rousing classical liberal, who believes passionately in the free market, in the power of the individual, and in the state's role as servant and not master. Croft is very skeptical of the European Union, and has spoken many times about Britain’s need to hold onto its sovereignty and ensure that Parliament remains the supreme governing body of the British people. He believes passionately in law and order, the need to cultivate a sense of personal responsibility, and the importance of Britain remaining a law-abiding society. He is seen by some in the Parliamentary Party as a change-oriented modernizer, and has spoken out about the Party’s need to reform the candidate selection process in order to encourage more women to run for office. While remaining loyal to the party and its whip, Croft has garnered a reputation for speaking his mind even when it has meant isolating himself from some of his front-bench colleagues. His tendency to make off the cuff remarks and speak candidly has made him a hit at local surgeries, which he works to hold at least twice a month.

In the past few years Croft has become a regular guest on late night television programs, including Question Time but also a number of less politically-inclined shows. Croft wears his reputation as someone who enjoys being in front of the camera and speaking to audiences with pride, being the first to admit that he’s a fan of the limelight.