Caroline Nokes

Caroline Nokes was selected to fight the Romsey and Southampton North constituency for the Conservatives at a meeting of party members in October 2005. She had previously fought the Romsey seat in May 2005, securing a swing of 2.3% to the Conservatives, away from the Liberal Democrats. The hard work of Caroline and her team has made the Romsey seat the most marginal Lib Dem seat in the country.

Caroline is an Executive Member of Test Valley Borough Council – with responsibility for Leisure and Culture.

She lives in West Wellow, the village where she grew up, with her husband Marc, daughter Tabitha, 2 dogs, 1 cat and 4 free range organic pigs. Living on the edge of the New Forest National Park they are often visited by a family of three deer who roam in their garden and are very beautiful to watch (unless they are chomping on the roses!)

Caroline was educated locally – at Thornegate School Wellow (by the wonderful Diana Pares), Romsey Abbey Primary School, Romsey School, La Sagesse Convent in Romsey and then Peter Symonds’ College, Winchester. She studied politics at the University of Sussex from 1991-4.

Caroline takes her role as the Executive Member for Leisure on TVBC very seriously and can often be found running in the area as part of her commitment to keep fit and healthy. A late convert to running she now tries to go out 2 or 3 times every week, completed the XLP Trust Triathlon in April 2007 and has other running plans in the future.

Until September 2009 Caroline was the Chief Executive of the National Pony Society, a registered charity devoted to the welfare and protection of British native ponies and the British Riding Pony. Between then and May 2010 she concentrated full time on her role as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Romsey & Southampton North.

In the early hours of May 7th 2010, following the general election the previous day, Caroline was confirmed as the Member of Parliament for Romsey and Southampton North. She won with a majority of 4156, securing a swing of some 4.5% from the Liberal Democrats to the Conservatives.

Declaration of Interests

April 2010

A. Other paid Jobs

Test Valley Borough Councillor for Romsey Extra Ward.

My term as Borough Councillor ends in 12 months. If elected I would consult with Romsey Extra residents to establish whether they wished me to cause a by-election or see out the remainder of my term. I would not seek any other remunerated employment.

B. Positions of Responsibility in some types of organisations

None.

C. Relevant Financial Interests

1) Directorships

None.

2) Clients

None.

3) Land and Property

I do not own any other land or property other than my family home. I do not intend to purchase any other land or property.

4) Shareholdings

I do not hold any shares greater than 15% of the share capital of the company. I hold a few shares (approximately 100) in some of the formerly privatised utility companies.

D. Tax Matters

I support the next Conservative Governments requirement that anyone who sits in either house will be required by law to be a full UK taxpayer. I confirm that I have never claimed to be, or been treated as not resident, not ordinarily resident or non-domiciled in the UK for tax purposes.

E. Any other interests

None.