{"id":1554,"date":"2021-08-11T14:14:50","date_gmt":"2021-08-11T14:14:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.johnwhittingdale.co.uk\/?page_id=1554"},"modified":"2026-02-17T16:47:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T16:47:27","slug":"rt-hon-john-whittingdale-obe-mp","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/?page_id=1554","title":{"rendered":"Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale OBE MP"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1554\" class=\"elementor elementor-1554\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bad000d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"bad000d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e21632c e-con-full elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e21632c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07944fb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"07944fb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8dd673c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8dd673c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"557\" src=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-17-at-10.10.31-1024x713.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4845\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-17-at-10.10.31-1024x713.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-17-at-10.10.31-300x209.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-17-at-10.10.31-768x535.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-17-at-10.10.31-1536x1069.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-17-at-10.10.31-2048x1425.webp 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c05eb7 e-con-full elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5c05eb7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35cf036 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"35cf036\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1bfb5c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"1bfb5c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mp-scope\">\n  <style>\n    .mp-scope{\n      font-family: Catamaran, Arial, sans-serif;\n      color:#02060E;\n      font-size:19pt;\n    }\n\n    \/* Headings (lighter + scaled) *\/\n    .mp-scope h2{\n      font-size:30pt;\n      font-weight:600;\n      margin:0 0 6px 0;\n      color:#002663;\n    }\n\n    .mp-flash{\n      height:3px;\n      width:100%;\n      margin:0 0 18px 0;\n      background:linear-gradient(to right, #002663, #6FA3FF);\n    }\n\n    \/* Body *\/\n    .mp-scope p{\n      line-height:1.7;\n      margin:0 0 16px 0;\n    }\n\n    \/* Callout rule blocks *\/\n    .mp-rule{\n      position:relative;\n      padding-left:18px;\n      margin:22px 0;\n    }\n    .mp-rule::before{\n      content:\"\";\n      position:absolute;\n      left:0;\n      top:6px;\n      bottom:6px;\n      width:5px;\n      background:#002663;\n      border-radius:4px 0 0 4px;\n    }\n\n    .mp-label{\n      font-weight:600;\n      margin-bottom:6px;\n    }\n\n    \/* Light info panels *\/\n    .mp-panel{\n      background:#F3F7FB;\n      padding:18px 20px;\n      margin:22px 0;\n    }\n  <\/style>\n\n  <h2>Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale MP<\/h2>\n  <div class=\"mp-flash\"><\/div>\n\n  <p>Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale has been Member of Parliament for Maldon since 1992, representing constituents in Westminster for over three decades.<\/p>\n\n  <div class=\"mp-rule\">\n    <div class=\"mp-label\">Background<\/div>\n    <p>Educated at Winchester College and University College London, where he read Economics, John worked in Whitehall and the City before entering Parliament. He served in the Conservative Research Department, as Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and later as Political Secretary and Private Secretary to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"mp-rule\">\n    <div class=\"mp-label\">Parliamentary career<\/div>\n    <p>First elected in 1992, John has held a range of parliamentary and ministerial roles, including service on the Health Select Committee and the Opposition front bench as a Treasury spokesman and Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"mp-rule\">\n    <div class=\"mp-label\">Committee leadership<\/div>\n    <p>From 2005 to 2015, John chaired the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, leading major inquiries into phone hacking, the future of the BBC, gambling regulation, broadband, tourism and preparations for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"mp-rule\">\n    <div class=\"mp-label\">Government roles<\/div>\n    <p>Following the 2015 General Election, John was appointed Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and became a member of the Privy Council, overseeing policy across broadcasting, digital media, telecommunications, tourism, heritage, the arts and sport.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"mp-rule\">\n    <div class=\"mp-label\">Recent service<\/div>\n    <p>John returned to Government in 2020 as Minister for Media and Data and was knighted in 2022 for political and public service.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"mp-panel\">\n    <p><strong>Supporting constituents<\/strong><br>\n    As a Member of Parliament, John represents all residents regardless of how they voted. He regularly assists by raising issues with Government departments, making representations on behalf of constituents and bringing local concerns to national attention.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"mp-panel\">\n    <p><strong>Need help?<\/strong><br>\n    If you live in Maldon and need support with housing, healthcare, transport, immigration or benefits, John\u2019s office can assist and raise matters with the relevant authorities.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"mp-rule\">\n    <div class=\"mp-label\">Constituency surgeries<\/div>\n    <p>John holds regular surgeries, typically on Fridays and Saturdays. To make an appointment or enquire about upcoming dates, please contact the Maldon Conservative Office on 01621 855663.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a25b807 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a25b807\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a6e8f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"7a6e8f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mp-heading\">\n  <style>\n    .mp-heading h2{\n      font-family: Catamaran, Arial, sans-serif;\n      font-size:25pt;\n      font-weight:600;\n      color:#002663;\n      margin:0 0 6px 0;\n    }\n\n    .mp-heading .mp-flash{\n      height:3px;\n      width:100%;\n      margin:0 0 22px 0;\n      background:linear-gradient(to right,#002663,#6FA3FF);\n    }\n  <\/style>\n\n  <h2>Recent appearances in the House of Commons Chamber<\/h2>\n  <div class=\"mp-flash\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07efc7d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"07efc7d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b859a7 elementor-grid-3 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-loop-grid\" data-id=\"0b859a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;template_id&quot;:4880,&quot;_skin&quot;:&quot;post&quot;,&quot;columns&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;edit_handle_selector&quot;:&quot;[data-elementor-type=\\&quot;loop-item\\&quot;]&quot;,&quot;row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"loop-grid.post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-loop-container elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t<style id=\"loop-4880\">.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-a6f705d{--display:flex;--justify-content:flex-start;--align-items:center;--container-widget-width:calc( ( 1 - var( --container-widget-flex-grow ) ) * 100% );--gap:0px 0px;--row-gap:0px;--column-gap:0px;box-shadow:1px 15px 18px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);}.elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image .widget-image-caption{color:var( --e-global-color-text );font-family:var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif;font-size:var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size );font-weight:var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );}.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-e051a24{margin:27px 9px calc(var(--kit-widget-spacing, 0px) + 9px) 9px;}.elementor-widget-theme-post-title .elementor-heading-title{font-family:var( --e-global-typography-primary-font-family ), Sans-serif;font-size:var( --e-global-typography-primary-font-size );font-weight:var( --e-global-typography-primary-font-weight );color:var( --e-global-color-primary );}.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-5adebd8{text-align:start;margin:10px 0px calc(var(--kit-widget-spacing, 0px) + 0px) 0px;padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;}.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-5adebd8 .elementor-heading-title{font-family:\"Catamaran\", Sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:500;text-transform:uppercase;color:var( --e-global-color-text );}.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-5adebd8.elementor-element{--align-self:center;}.elementor-widget-theme-post-excerpt{font-family:var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif;font-size:var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size );font-weight:var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );color:var( --e-global-color-text );}.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-ecc9f94{margin:-15px 10px calc(var(--kit-widget-spacing, 0px) + 26px) 10px;}@media(max-width:1024px){.elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image .widget-image-caption{font-size:var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size );}.elementor-widget-theme-post-title .elementor-heading-title{font-size:var( --e-global-typography-primary-font-size );}.elementor-widget-theme-post-excerpt{font-size:var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size );}}@media(max-width:767px){.elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image .widget-image-caption{font-size:var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size );}.elementor-widget-theme-post-title .elementor-heading-title{font-size:var( --e-global-typography-primary-font-size );}.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-5adebd8 .elementor-heading-title{font-size:16px;}.elementor-widget-theme-post-excerpt{font-size:var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size );}}\/* Start custom CSS for container, class: .elementor-element-a6f705d *\/\/* 1) Create a consistent image frame (adjust height to taste) *\/\n.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-a6f705d .elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image,\n.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-a6f705d .elementor-post__thumbnail,\n.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-a6f705d .elementor-loop-container .e-loop-item img,\n.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-a6f705d .swiper-slide img{\n  display:block;\n}\n\n\/* Frame wrapper(s) *\/\n.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-a6f705d .elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image,\n.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-a6f705d .elementor-post__thumbnail,\n.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-a6f705d .elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image .elementor-widget-container,\n.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-a6f705d .elementor-post__thumbnail a{\n  overflow:hidden !important;\n}\n\n\/* 2) Force ALL likely featured-image <img> elements to crop inside the frame *\/\n.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-a6f705d .elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image img,\n.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-a6f705d .elementor-post__thumbnail img,\n.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-a6f705d .elementor-loop-container .e-loop-item img,\n.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-a6f705d .swiper-slide img{\n  width:100% !important;\n  height:220px !important;           \/* <-- change this (e.g. 200 \/ 240 \/ 260) *\/\n  object-fit:cover !important;\n  object-position:center !important;\n}\n\n\/* 3) Stabilise title block height so card heights align *\/\n.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-a6f705d .elementor-heading-title,\n.elementor-4880 .elementor-element.elementor-element-a6f705d .elementor-post__title{\n  min-height:3.2em;\n}\/* End custom CSS *\/<\/style>\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"loop-item\" data-elementor-id=\"4880\" class=\"elementor elementor-4880 e-loop-item e-loop-item-6393 post-6393 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-speeches\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\" data-custom-edit-handle=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6f705d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a6f705d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" href=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/?p=6393\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e051a24 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e051a24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Ukraine-11SEP26-32-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-6394\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Ukraine-11SEP26-32-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Ukraine-11SEP26-32-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Ukraine-11SEP26-32-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Ukraine-11SEP26-32-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Ukraine-11SEP26-32-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5adebd8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5adebd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Supporting Ukraine<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ecc9f94 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-excerpt\" data-id=\"ecc9f94\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-excerpt.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\tSir John welcomes the Government\u2019s continued support for Ukraine and calls for greater public awareness of the threat from Russia and action against companies continuing to trade there.\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"loop-item\" data-elementor-id=\"4880\" class=\"elementor elementor-4880 e-loop-item e-loop-item-6386 post-6386 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-speeches\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\" data-custom-edit-handle=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6f705d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a6f705d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" href=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/?p=6386\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e051a24 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e051a24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-12.03.11-2-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-6225\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-12.03.11-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-12.03.11-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-12.03.11-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-12.03.11-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-12.03.11-2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5adebd8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5adebd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Media Green Paper<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ecc9f94 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-excerpt\" data-id=\"ecc9f94\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-excerpt.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\tChairing this debate, Sir John supports the proposed 2034 transition from digital terrestrial television but raises concerns about broadband access, commercial radio costs, and Government proposals on media prominence.\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"loop-item\" data-elementor-id=\"4880\" class=\"elementor elementor-4880 e-loop-item e-loop-item-6374 post-6374 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-speeches\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\" data-custom-edit-handle=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6f705d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a6f705d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" href=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/?p=6374\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e051a24 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e051a24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Falklands-Sovereignty-32-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-6382\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Falklands-Sovereignty-32-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Falklands-Sovereignty-32-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Falklands-Sovereignty-32-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Falklands-Sovereignty-32-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Falklands-Sovereignty-32-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5adebd8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5adebd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Falkland Islands Sovereignty<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ecc9f94 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-excerpt\" data-id=\"ecc9f94\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-excerpt.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\tSir John Whittingdale highlights the importance of maintaining close UK-US relations, citing American support during the Falklands War and its continuing importance to the UK\u2019s position.\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"loop-item\" data-elementor-id=\"4880\" class=\"elementor elementor-4880 e-loop-item e-loop-item-6221 post-6221 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-speeches\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\" data-custom-edit-handle=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6f705d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a6f705d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" href=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/?p=6221\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e051a24 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e051a24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-12.03.11-2-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-6225\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-12.03.11-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-12.03.11-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-12.03.11-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-12.03.11-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-12.03.11-2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5adebd8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5adebd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Sir John&#8217;s Anti-SLAPPs Bill<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ecc9f94 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-excerpt\" data-id=\"ecc9f94\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-excerpt.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\tSir John's Private Member\u2019s Bill on SLAPPs seeks to strengthen protections against strategic litigation that he says can restrict legitimate investigative journalism and free expression.\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"loop-item\" data-elementor-id=\"4880\" class=\"elementor elementor-4880 e-loop-item e-loop-item-6335 post-6335 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-speeches tag-johnwhittingdalemp tag-businessrates tag-essexbusiness\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\" data-custom-edit-handle=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6f705d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a6f705d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" href=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/?p=6335\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e051a24 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e051a24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Burnham-2SEP26-Business-Rates-PMQs-IMG-34-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-6337\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Burnham-2SEP26-Business-Rates-PMQs-IMG-34-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Burnham-2SEP26-Business-Rates-PMQs-IMG-34-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Burnham-2SEP26-Business-Rates-PMQs-IMG-34-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Burnham-2SEP26-Business-Rates-PMQs-IMG-34-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Whittingdale-Burnham-2SEP26-Business-Rates-PMQs-IMG-34-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5adebd8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5adebd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Business Rates for all Businesses<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ecc9f94 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-excerpt\" data-id=\"ecc9f94\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-excerpt.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\tSir John Whittingdale calls for business rates relief to be extended to all high street businesses, highlighting the impact of business rates on jobs.\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"loop-item\" data-elementor-id=\"4880\" class=\"elementor elementor-4880 e-loop-item e-loop-item-6267 post-6267 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-speeches category-westminster-news\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\" data-custom-edit-handle=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6f705d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a6f705d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" href=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/?p=6267\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e051a24 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e051a24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-6269\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5adebd8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5adebd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">OSCE PA Vice President<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ecc9f94 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-excerpt\" data-id=\"ecc9f94\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-excerpt.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\tSir John Whittingdale has been elected Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, strengthening the UK's voice in international parliamentary diplomacy, security and democratic cooperation over the next three years.\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale MP Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale has been Member of Parliament for Maldon since 1992, representing constituents in Westminster for over three decades. Background Educated at Winchester College and University College London, where he read Economics, John worked in Whitehall and the City before entering Parliament. He served in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1554","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1554"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1554\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5017,"href":"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1554\/revisions\/5017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}