Cole Harris

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Cole Harris MP - Conservative and Unionist Party - Folkestone and Hythe

Name: Cole Taylor Harris
Avatar: Chris Sununu (Governor of New Hampshire)
Age: 48 in 2021 (born May 6, 1973)
Sex: Male
Ethnicity: White British
Marital Status: Married, 2 children
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

Party: Conservative and Unionist Party
Political Outlook: Free Marketeer (primary) and Loyalist (secondary). On the economy, Harris is interested in fiscal conservatism, specifically lowering and simplifying the administration of tax and welfare benefits. Internationally, he is pro-Brexit (though preferably on good terms with the EU) and pro-special relationship with the US. Harris doesn't tend to dabble into social issues and views immigration as a possible economic benefit, even if it is a political liability. On the environment, Cole Harris is fond of local-led conservation efforts along with global cooperation. He is also outspoken in his support for democratization of the electoral process (including recall of MPs and donor transparency), which is a lonely place on the right-wing of the Party. Finally, Harris has shown an interest in social mobility and the importance of building social capital.
Constituency: Folkestone and Hythe
Year Elected: 2010

Education: BA Geography, Oxford (1991-1994)
Career: Upon graduation, Harris went to work for a management consultancy in London. He worked there until 1996, when he was briefly moved to New York City. In 2000, Harris returned to England and became Executive Director of a boutique consultancy firm that catered to conservancy organizations. He left that role when he was elected to Parliament.
Political Career: Harris was involved in the Oxford University Conservative Association, and was the runner-up for its presidency in 1994. He would be elected to Kent County Council in 2001, where he served until being elected MP for Folkestone and Hythe in 2010. On the Kent County Council, Cole Harris briefly served as Cabinet Member for Economic Development (2009-2010). While in Parliament, Harris has served as a Vice Chair on the APPG for Social Mobility. He supported Michael Gove in the 2019 leadership election Parliamentary votes, and then Boris Johnson in the party-wide vote.