Craig Whittaker

Craig Whittaker
Craig Whittaker MP
Member of Parliament
for Calder Valley
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 May 2010
Preceded by Christine McCafferty
Majority 6,431 (12.4%)
Personal details
Born 30 August 1962 (1962-08-30) (age 49)
Radcliffe, Lancashire, England
Nationality British
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Elaine Wilkinson

Craig Whittaker (born 30 August 1962)[1] is a British Conservative Party politician. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Calder Valley since he won the seat at the general election on 6 May 2010.[2]

Born in Radcliffe, Lancashire and educated at Belmont High School in New South Wales, Australia.[3] He began his career in Australia with Pizza Hut as a restaurant manager from 1980-4, before transferring to the UK for a year with the same company. In 1985 he became a licencee with Liberty Taverns and with JW Lees in 1986. In 1988 he became Food Retail Director of Kezdem Ltd. In 1992 he joined Wilkinson Home and Garden Stores as a branch manager. In 1998 he became a retail general manager with PC World until 2009.

Whittaker was elected in 2003 to serve on Calderdale Borough Council for the Rastrick ward. He served as the cabinet member for children and young people from 2007-10. He stood down from the council in 2011. He was formerly (1998–2003) a member of Heptonstall Parish Council.[4]

He served as the chairman of the Calder Valley Conservative Association, 2005-06.

He has three children, Lee Whittaker, Sophie Whittaker and Bethannie Whittaker and lives in Rastrick with his wife businesswoman Elaine Wilkinson[5], who he married in The Chapel of St Mary Undercroft at the House of Commons in August 2011. [6]

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