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{{short description|British politician (born 1984)}}{{Use British English|date=August 2020}}{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}

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| birth_name = Laura Trott| image = Laura Trott Official Cabinet Portrait, November 2023 (cropped).jpg| majority6 = 20,818 (40.9%)| name = Laura TrottMember of Parliament (United Kingdom)>Member of Parliamentfor Sevenoaks| term_start6 = 12 December 2019| term_end6 = Conservative Party (UK)>Conservative| predecessor6 = Michael Fallondf=yes12|07}}| birth_place = Oxted, England| website = Official website| alma_mater = Pembroke College, Oxford| spouse = Bahador Mahvelati| children = 3| caption = Official portrait, 2023| office = Chief Secretary to the Treasury| term_start = 13 November 2023| term_end = | primeminister = Rishi SunakJohn Glen (politician)>John Glen| successor = | office1 = Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions| term_start1 = 27 October 2022| term_end1 = 13 November 2023| primeminister1 = Rishi Sunak| predecessor1 = Alex Burghart| successor1 = Paul Maynard}}Laura Trott {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=GBR|dize=100|sep=,|MBE}} (born 7 December 1984) is a British politician who has served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury since November 2023. A member of the Conservative Party, she was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sevenoaks at the 2019 general election. Trott previously served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions between October 2022 and November 2023. Before entering parliament, Trott worked as a partner at Portland Communications, and as a special adviser.

Early life and career

Trott was born on 7 December 1984BOOK, Brunskill, Ian,worldcat.org/oclc/1129682574, The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain’s historic 2019 General Election, 19 March 2020, 978-0-00-839258-1, 325, 1129682574, 23 June 2021, 9 November 2021,web.archive.org/web/20211109125548/https://www.worldcat.org/title/times-guide-to-the-house-of-commons-2019-the-definitive-record-of-britains-historic-2019-general-election/oclc/1129682574, live, and grew up in Oxted, Surrey, England. She attended Oxted SchoolWEB,www.lauratrott.org.uk/about-laura, Laura Trott, About Laura, 8 July 2022, 27 November 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231127190754/https://www.lauratrott.org.uk/about-laura, live, before studying history and economics at Pembroke College, Oxford.NEWS,schoolsweek.co.uk/ben-and-michael-dyer-laura-trott-and-brian-lightman/, Schools Week, Movers & Shakers: Ben and Michael Dyer, Laura Trott and Brian Lightman, Camden, Billy, 6 February 2016, 6 February 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200206102448/https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ben-and-michael-dyer-laura-trott-and-brian-lightman/, 6 February 2020, live, WEB,www.pmb.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/speech_for_womens_dinner_ljb.pdf, Pembroke College, Oxford, Dame Lynne Brindley Speech for Pembroke 40 Years of Women Dinner, 2, 6 February 2020, 26 June 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210626182020/https://www.pmb.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/speech_for_womens_dinner_ljb.pdf, dead, WEB,issuu.com/pembrokecollegeoxford/docs/l-1-2-2013-2, The Pembrokian, 5, July 2013, 6 February 2020, The Pembrokian, Issue 38, July 2013, 2 October 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231002034544/https://issuu.com/pembrokecollegeoxford/docs/l-1-2-2013-2, live, Trott joined the Conservative Party in her teens and has cited Prime Minister John Major as an early influence to join politics.NEWS,www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/rising-stars-meet-conservative-partys-ambitious-young-mps, Rising stars: Meet the Conservative Party’s ambitious young MPs, 3 October 2023, 15 November 2023, Scotson, Tom, PoliticsHome, 15 November 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231115203816/https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/rising-stars-meet-conservative-partys-ambitious-young-mps, live, After university, she became a strategy consultant at Booz & Company.WEB,portland-communications.com/portland-news/portland-appoints-three-former-downing-street-advisers-to-its-corporate-team/, Portland appoints three former Downing Street advisers to its corporate team, 6 February 2020, 1 September 2017, Portland Communications, 12 November 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231112225438/https://portland-communications.com/portland-news/portland-appoints-three-former-downing-street-advisers-to-its-corporate-team/, live, Trott is an ambassador for the Sutton Trust, an educational charity.

Political career

Trott served as a Conservative Party Councillor for Frognal and Fitzjohns on Camden London Borough Council between 2010 and 2014.NEWS,www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/politics/ballerina-florence-raja-in-bid-for-tory-frognal-and-fitzjohn-s-camden-council-seat-1-2233099, Ballerina in bid for Tory Camden Council seat, Ham & High, 12 June 2013, 6 February 2020, Youle, Emma, 26 September 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200926161113/https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/politics/ballerina-florence-raja-in-bid-for-tory-frognal-and-fitzjohn-s-camden-council-seat-1-2233099, live, WEB,www.camden.gov.uk/local-election-results-6-may-2010, Camden London Borough Council, 6 February 2020, Local election results 6 May 2010, 12 November 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231112225442/https://www.camden.gov.uk/local-election-results-6-may-2010, live, In January 2009, she became a political adviser for the Conservatives, before becoming a special adviser to then Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude in May 2010 with the remit of political policy and media, and was then promoted to chief of staff.NEWS,www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/feb/15/women-equality, The Guardian, Can David Cameron be made to understand what women want?, 15 February 2012, 6 February 2020, Hill, Amelia,web.archive.org/web/20200108105505/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/feb/15/women-equality, 8 January 2020, live, She was subsequently appointed as a political adviser in the Number 10 Policy Unit, responsible for education and family policy under then Prime Minister David Cameron. Trott was credited for formulating the party’s tax-free childcare policy.NEWS,www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/31/donors-aides-and-remainers-dominate-secret-cameron-honours-list, Donors, aides and remainers dominate secret Cameron honours list, The Guardian, 31 July 2016, 6 February 2020, Siddique, Haroon,web.archive.org/web/20200108054004/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/31/donors-aides-and-remainers-dominate-secret-cameron-honours-list, 8 January 2020, live, After the 2015 general election, Trott was promoted to director of strategic communication. In 2016, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in Cameron’s Resignation Honours for her political and public service.WEB,assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/543929/Resignation-Honours-2016.pdf, 5, Resignation Honours 2016, gov.uk, 6 February 2020,web.archive.org/web/20190905070417/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/543929/Resignation-Honours-2016.pdf, 5 September 2019, live, After the election of Prime Minister Theresa May, she left government service and became a partner at the political consultancy and public relations firm Portland Communications in September 2017.Trott was selected as the Conservative candidate for Sevenoaks in Kent on 10 November 2019.NEWS,www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2019/11/tories-select-laura-trott-sevenoaks, New Statesman, Tories select Laura Trott in Sevenoaks, 10 November 2019, 6 February 2020, Maguire, Patrick,web.archive.org/web/20191216213954/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2019/11/tories-select-laura-trott-sevenoaks, 16 December 2019, live, It is a safe Conservative seat, having elected a member of the party since 1924, and was previously represented by former Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon. At the 2019 general election, Trott was elected as MP for Sevenoaks with a majority of 20,818 and 60.7% of the vote.NEWS,www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000918, Sevenoaks, 6 February 2020, BBC News,web.archive.org/web/20190809065722/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000918, 9 August 2019, live, WEB, 15 November 2019, Statement of persons nominated, notice of poll and situation of polling stations,www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/info/20053/elections_and_voting/484/general_election_12_december_2019, 17 June 2019, Sevenoaks District Council, 17 November 2019,web.archive.org/web/20191117190528/https://www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/info/20053/elections_and_voting/484/general_election_12_december_2019, live, Trott is the first woman to represent the constituency.WEB,www.kentonline.co.uk/sevenoaks/news/general-election-2019-result-for-sevenoaks-218097/, General Election 2019: Sevenoaks result, Duggan, Ciaran, 6 February 2020, 13 December 2019, Kent Online, 13 November 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231113092147/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sevenoaks/news/general-election-2019-result-for-sevenoaks-218097/, live, She was a policy fellow at the Centre for Science and Policy at the University of Cambridge between 2020 and 2021.WEB,www.csap.cam.ac.uk/policy-fellowships/policy-fellows/policy-fellows-2020-2021/, Policy Fellows 2020–2021, Centre for Science and Policy, 8 July 2022, 13 November 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231113092151/https://www.csap.cam.ac.uk/policy-fellowships/policy-fellows/policy-fellows-2020-2021/, live, On 5 February 2020 Trott presented her Private Member’s Bill, which aimed to restrict access to botulinum toxin and filler cosmetic procedures for under 18s.WEB,www.nuffieldbioethics.org/news/new-bill-to-restrict-under-18s-access-to-botox-and-fillers-echoes-nuffield-council-concerns, Nuffield Council of Bioethics, 5 February 2020, 6 February 2020, New Bill to restrict under 18s’ access to Botox and fillers echoes Nuffield Council concerns, 12 November 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231112225442/https://www.nuffieldbioethics.org/news/new-bill-to-restrict-under-18s-access-to-botox-and-fillers-echoes-nuffield-council-concerns, live, It became law in October 2021.NEWS,graziadaily.co.uk/beauty-hair/skin/botox-bill-dermal-fillers-3/, Grazia, ‘I Hope Today Marks The Start Of Much Needed Change’: Laura Trott MP On New The Botox And Filler Ban For Under-18s, Trott, Laura, 14 November 2021, 1 October 2021, 13 November 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231113092146/https://graziadaily.co.uk/beauty-hair/skin/botox-bill-dermal-fillers-3/, live, Trott was a member of the Health and Social Care Select Committee between March 2020 and November 2022.WEB,committees.parliament.uk/committee/81/health-and-social-care-committee/news/144999/health-and-social-care-committee-membership-agreed/, Health and Social Care Committee membership agreed, parliament.uk, 2 March 2020, 3 March 2020, 3 March 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200303142022/https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/81/health-and-social-care-committee/news/144999/health-and-social-care-committee-membership-agreed/, live, She was also on the steering committee of the China Research Group during the same period.NEWS,www.ft.com/content/b354c58b-06fc-4848-a823-584bcc0c3869, Financial Times, Senior Tories launch ERG-style group to shape policy on China, 25 April 2020, 24 June 2020, Payne, Sebastian, 24 August 2023,web.archive.org/web/20230824133250/https://www.ft.com/content/b354c58b-06fc-4848-a823-584bcc0c3869, live, Trott co-wrote a policy paper advocating for the establishment of “accelerator zones” with fellow Conservative MP Bim Afolami in February 2021 for the think tank Social Market Foundation. The zones would have relaxation of visa rules, tax incentives, and policy fellowship programmes.WEB,www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Accelerator-Zones-Afolami-Trott-Feb-2021.pdf, Accelerator Zones: how to turbocharge economic opportunity across the UK, Social Market Foundation, 21 February 2021, 22 December 2022, 22 December 2022,web.archive.org/web/20221222234828/https://www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Accelerator-Zones-Afolami-Trott-Feb-2021.pdf, live, On 6 July 2022, in the wake of the resignations of Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid from the second Johnson ministry following the Chris Pincher scandal, Trott resigned as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Transport, citing “trust in politics is – and must always be – of the utmost importance, but sadly in recent months this has been lost”.NEWS,www.reuters.com/world/uk/another-uk-lawmaker-resigns-pm-johnsons-government-2022-07-06/, Another UK lawmaker resigns from PM Johnson’s government, Reuters, 6 July 2022, 6 July 2022, 12 November 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231112225438/https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/another-uk-lawmaker-resigns-pm-johnsons-government-2022-07-06/, live, Two days later, following Johnson’s resignation as Conservative Party leader, she endorsed Sunak’s failed bid to succeed him in the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.NEWS,www.ft.com/content/ea706ae0-284c-43f3-adb8-55c3ad8bc250, Financial Times, Rishi Sunak to stand for leadership of UK Tory party, 8 July 2022, 8 July 2022, Payne, Sebastian, 12 November 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231112225433/https://www.ft.com/content/ea706ae0-284c-43f3-adb8-55c3ad8bc250, live,

Ministerial career

Trott was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions on 27 October 2022. During her tenure, the department published the first official data on the gender pensions gap. She also supported the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023 which enabled the government to reduce the minimum age of enrolment from 22 to 18.NEWS,www.pensionsage.com/pa/Laura-trott-no-longer-pensions-minister-following-sunak-reshuffle.php, Pensions Age, 13 November 2023, Smith, Sophie, 15 November 2023, Updated: Laura Trott moved to Treasury; Opperman moved to transport, 30 November 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231130171904/https://www.pensionsage.com/pa/Laura-trott-no-longer-pensions-minister-following-sunak-reshuffle.php, live, On 13 November 2023, Trott was promoted to Chief Secretary to the Treasury during Sunak’s second cabinet reshuffle.WEB, Laura Trott MBE MP,www.gov.uk/government/people/laura-trott, 13 November 2023, gov.uk, 12 November 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231112225435/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/laura-trott, live, NEWS,www.ftadviser.com/pensions/2023/11/13/cabinet-reshuffle-pensions-and-housing-on-ministerial-merry-go-round/, Cabinet reshuffle: pensions and housing on ministerial merry go round, FT Adviser, Austin, Amy, 13 November 2023, 13 November 2023, 13 November 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231113172844/https://www.ftadviser.com/pensions/2023/11/13/cabinet-reshuffle-pensions-and-housing-on-ministerial-merry-go-round/, live, She was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council on 13 December 2023 at Buckingham Palace following her appointment, entitling her to the honorific prefix ”The Right Honourable” for life.WEB,privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-12-13-List-of-Business.pdf, Privy Council Office, Orders for 13 December 2023, 20 December 2023, 20 December 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231220102048/https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-12-13-List-of-Business.pdf, live,

Personal life

Trott is married to Bahador “Bids” Mahvelati, a partner at professional services firm PwC.AV MEDIA, Trott, Laura (speaker); Ramewal, Pav, Dr (Returning Officer), 13 December 2019, 13 December 2019,www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeXGn5tSqAk, 2m56s, 29 December 2020, Sevenoaks District Council, “I’d like to thank my family; my friends; my husband Bids here tonight”, 13 November 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231113194000/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeXGn5tSqAk, live, WEB,www.pwc.co.uk/contacts/b/bahador-mahvelati.html, Bahador (Bids) Mahvelati, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, 29 December 2020, 13 November 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231113092145/https://www.pwc.co.uk/contacts/b/bahador-mahvelati.html, live, They have one daughter and twin sons.WEB,www.kentonline.co.uk/sevenoaks/news/general-election-2019-we-can-deliver-what-sevenoaks-needs-says-laura-trott-216653/, Kent Online, General Election 2019: Conservative Laura Trott looks safe in Sevenoaks, 17 November 2019, 6 February 2020, Smith, Alan,web.archive.org/web/20191117221740/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sevenoaks/news/general-election-2019-we-can-deliver-what-sevenoaks-needs-says-laura-trott-216653/, 17 November 2019, live, WEB,www.sevenoaksconservatives.org/people/laura-trott, Sevenoaks Conservatives, 6 February 2020, Laura Trott,web.archive.org/web/20200115033316/https://www.sevenoaksconservatives.org/people/laura-trott, 15 January 2020, live,

References

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External links

• {{UK MP links |parliament=4780 |publicwhip=Laura_Trott |theywork=laura_trott}}

{{Sunak Cabinet}}{{South East Conservative Party MPs}}{{Chief Secretaries to the Treasury}}{{Ministers at HM Treasury}}