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Jack Rankin

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For the rugby player, see Jack Rankin (rugby player).
Jack Rankin
MP
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for Windsor
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded byAdam Afriyie
Majority6,457 (14.3%)
Personal details
Born (1992-08-19) 19 August 1992 (age 32)
Ashton-under-Lyne, England
Political partyConservative
Alma materUniversity of Warwick
WebsiteOfficial website

Jack Michael Rankin[1] (born 19 August 1992) is a British Conservative Party politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Windsor since 2024. Before being elected, he worked as an energy markets professional, having a career background in commodity trading and corporate finance. He was a councillor for Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council between 2015 and 2019.

Early life

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Rankin was born in Ashton-under-Lyne in 1992.[2] He was educated at West Hill School,[3] a state comprehensive in Stalybridge, followed by the University of Warwick, where he read Mathematics and Physics, graduating with a BSc, MMathPhys in 2014.[4]

Career

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In 2014, Rankin began working for Centrica, at their headoffice in Windsor, Berkshire.[5] His work related to long-term commodity trading and mergers and acquisitions in the energy industry. He joined Pexapark in 2022[6]

Rankin was elected as a councillor for the Castle Without ward covering central Windsor in the 2015 Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council election.[7]

Rankin contested Ashton-under-Lyne at the 2017 general election,[8][9] coming second with 32.0% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP Angela Rayner.

He was selected for the marginal seat of Warwick and Leamington[10] in the first tranche of candidates ahead of what became the 2019 General Election.[11] He came second losing by 789 votes.[12][13]

Rankin was then selected as the candidate for Windsor in September 2023[14] in what was described as a "gruelling process".[15]

In September 2023, Rankin was accused of sharing transphobic social media posts after describing LGBTQ rights charity Stonewall as "dangerous" and criticised public and corporate funding of the organisation.[16] Rankin defended his comments saying he opposes discrimination against LGBTQ people, but that "a number of organisations have been pushing a politically contentious agenda in schools, an agenda that tells children they may have been 'born in the wrong body' and promotes the permanent and irreversible medical and surgical treatments to children."

In April 2024, he described the UK as in a "pre-war environment" and called for the UK to re-arm.[17]

Rankin was elected as Member of Parliament for Windsor at the 2024 general election, winning 36.4% of the vote and a majority of 6,457.[18]

Rankin gave his maiden speech on 22 October 2024, during a debate in the Commons on the Commonwealth of Nations.[19] During his speech, Rankin paid homage to the constituency's former MP Adam Afriyie and spoke of key issues in the constituency including a third runway at Heathrow and flooding, as well as sharing the history of the constituency.[20]

Representing both Ascot and Royal Windsor racecourses within his constituency, on 24 October 2024, Rankin raised the significant local employment created by both venues and "millions" generated for the local economy as reasons why proposed further regulation on customers would do damage to his constituency.[21]

Reacting to the 2024 budget, Rankin attacked Chancellor Rachel Reeves for "chucking money at an unreformed public sector while ballooning public sector pay", and the Cabinet for their "distinct lack of real world, private sector experience."[22]

In October 2024, it was confirmed with 24-hours' notice that The Manor Hotel in the village of Datchet within his constituency would be used as accommodation due to the "high number of arrivals across the channel".[23] Rankin wrote urgently to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper to oppose this decision, following up with two oral questions in the House of Commons chamber.[24] In January 2025, he hosted a Westminster Hall debate on asylum hotels, stating that "we, collectively, are the fools for putting a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow—we need to remove it.[25]"

In November 2024, Rankin started a petition against potential closure of the Windsor post office.[26]

Rankin was placed on the public bill committee for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in January 2025.[27]

In January 2025, Rankin raised concerns at the government's changes to employer National Insurance contributions, specifically regarding Thames Hospice and Thames Valley Air Ambulance which provide services within his constituency.[28]

Speaking at Home Office oral question time, Rankin highlighted the "ticking time bomb" posed by Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK, which he said could cost the British state "more than £61 billion."[29]

After the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council announced its budgetary plans to increase Council tax by 25%,[30] Rankin began a campaign, calling on the government to reject the rise.[31] Following local campaigning by Conservative Councillors[32] and the TaxPayers' Alliance,[33] the government announced it would only allow the Council to raise Council tax by 8.99%.[34]

In February 2025, two local news stories appeared in quick succession regarding Rankin's parliamentary contribution on British horseracing and the gambling industry, where he spoke about Ascot and Royal Windsor racecourses,[35][36] for which he is their parliamentary representative. The stories contained no opposing quotes and Rankin was thanked by both constituency racecourses for visiting them, and standing up for their employees during an uncertain period for the industry[36][35]. In Bracknell News, Rankin was quoted as saying "I proudly and unashamedly continue to stand up for the fantastic Ascot and Royal Windsor racecourses in my constituency, that is me doing my job, regardless of any attempt to skew my clear motives for doing so".[37]

Personal life

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In 2016, Rankin married non-practising barrister Sarah New.[38] He lives in Sunninghill with his wife and two sons.[39]

References

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  1. ^ https://commonsbusiness.parliament.uk/Document/88152/Pdf?subType=Standard House of Commons, Votes and Proceedings, Tuesday 9 July 2024.
  2. ^ Moules, James (11 September 2023). "Ex-councillor chosen as Windsor Tory parliamentary candidate". Slough & South Bucks Observer. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  3. ^ "GCSE results 2008". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  4. ^ "About Jack Rankin". jackrankin.org.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Jack Rankin for Windsor". Jack Rankin. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  6. ^ Rankin, Jack (2023-10-09). "The rise of hybrid PPAs in the renewables industry". Power Engineering International. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  7. ^ RBWM (2015). "Borough Election Results 2015 – By Ward" (PDF).
  8. ^ "General Election – Meet the Candidates – Ashton-Under Lyne (includes Failsworth)". www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  9. ^ "Royal Borough councillor bids to become Tory MP for Ashton-under-Lyne". www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  10. ^ "Windsor councillor selected as parliamentary candidate for Warwick and Leamington constituency". www.windsorexpress.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  11. ^ Wallace, Mark (2018-09-23). "Shortlist revealed for tomorrow's Crewe and Nantwich open primary". Conservative Home. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
  12. ^ "General election 2019: Labour holds seats in Warwickshire and Coventry". BBC News. 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  13. ^ "Matt Western narrowly holds Warwick & Leamington seat for Labour". Leamington Observer. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  14. ^ "Jack Rankin has been adopted as the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for the new Windsor Constituency". Windsor Conservatives. 2023-09-03. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  15. ^ Atkinson, William (2023-09-04). "Rankin selected in Windsor in a 'gruelling' and 'very divisive' local contest". Conservative Home. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  16. ^ "Windsor parliamentary candidate accused of sharing 'transphobic' social media posts". Slough Observer. 2023-09-19. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  17. ^ Rankin, Jack. "Working for Windsor". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  18. ^ "Windsor – General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  19. ^ "Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill [Lords]". Hansard. 22 October 2024.
  20. ^ Kidd, Jade (2024-10-25). "Windsor MP vows to continue campaign against Heathrow third runway in Maiden Speech". www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  21. ^ "Horseracing - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 2025-02-19. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  22. ^ "Income Tax (Charge) - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 2025-02-19. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  23. ^ Lee, David (2024-11-01). "Datchet community 'powerless' over asylum seeker hotel decision". www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  24. ^ "Datchet hotel to be centre of Jack Rankin MP's debate on the re-opening of migrant hotels". Jack Rankin. 2025-01-19. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  25. ^ "Asylum Seeker Hotel Accommodation: Reopening - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 2025-02-19. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  26. ^ "Tell the Post Office - Save Windsor Post Office!". Jack Rankin. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  27. ^ "Tobacco and Vapes Bill (Fifth sitting) - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 2025-02-19. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  28. ^ "Employer National Insurance Contributions: Charities - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 2025-02-19. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  29. ^ "Migration Levels: Indefinite Leave to Remain - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  30. ^ "Draft 2025/26 budget sets out need for significant council tax increase to avoid bankruptcy | Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead". www.rbwm.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  31. ^ Williams, Adrian (2024-12-19). "Windsor and Maidenhead MPs clash over council tax". www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  32. ^ "Tory councillor tears into plans to hike tax by FIVE times legal limit: 'Completely unacceptable!'". www.gbnews.com. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  33. ^ Jan 20 2025. "TaxPayers' Alliance launches campaign against "record breaking" tax rise in Windsor and Maidenhead". TaxPayers' Alliance. Retrieved 2025-02-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ Leech, Sam (2025-02-03). "RBWM council tax set for 9% hike after government rejects 25% plea". www.sloughexpress.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  35. ^ a b "Ascot Racecourse gave MP free tickets – days before he spoke against betting laws". Bracknell News. 2025-02-12. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  36. ^ a b "Ascot MP who spoke against betting laws took £10,000 donation from racehorse owner". Bracknell News. 2025-02-18. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  37. ^ "Ascot MP who spoke against betting laws took £10,000 donation from racehorse owner". Bracknell News. 2025-02-18. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  38. ^ "Windsor Town Group Supper with Jack Rankin" (PDF). Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  39. ^ "General Election 2024: Meet the candidates standing in Windsor". maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
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