Richard Bacon was first elected as the Conservative MP for South Norfolk in 2001, being reelected in 2019 with a majority of 21,275.
The constituency of south Norfolk is a rural seat that lies to the south of Norwich and includes the towns of Diss and Haddiscoe. The local population was evenly split on Brexit in the 2016 EU referendum. This is a very agricultural area, which has been held by the Conservatives continuously since 1950.
Born in 1962, Richard Bacon attended the London School of Economics, where he gained a First Class Honours degree in politics and economics. He also studied at the Goethe Institute in Berlin.
After working in investment banking and financial journalism, Richard became an Associate Partner of Brunswick, the leading financial public relations consultancy, before setting up his own business, the English Word Factory, advising blue chip international companies on communications.
Bacon supported Michael Gove in the 2019 Conservative leadership election. He supported Brexit in the 2016 EU referendum.
In 2003, he was one of just a few Conservative MPs to vote against the second Gulf War.
In 2009 he was one of just a small number of MPs to support a motion of no confidence in the then Speaker, Michael Martin.
He won the ‘Backbencher of the Year’ award in 2006.
In 2013, he co-wrote the book, ‘Why every government gets things wrong, and what we can do about it’.
He lists his interest as reading, modern painting, music, including jazz and choral singing, and playing the bongos. He has two children.
Richard Bacon is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Iran. He is Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Russia; Film and Broader Screen; Housing and Social Mobility.
Email: richardbaconmp@parliament.uk
Personal Website: http://www.richardbacon.org.uk/
