25 Facts About Kevin Hollinrake

Kevin Paul Hollinrake was born on 28 September 1963 and is a British Conservative Party politician and businessman who has served as the Member of Parliament for Thirsk and Malton since 2015.

Kevin Hollinrake has served as Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities since November 2024.

Kevin Hollinrake served as Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade from July to November 2024.

Kevin Hollinrake previously served as Minister of State for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business from 2022 to 2024.

Kevin Hollinrake was born and brought up in North Yorkshire.

Kevin Hollinrake's father was a milkman and his mother was a social worker.

Kevin Hollinrake attended Easingwold School and studied physics at Sheffield City Polytechnic, though he did not complete his degree.

Kevin Hollinrake then co-founded the Hunters estate agency in York in 1992; he previously owned Crayke Castle.

In 2009, Kevin Hollinrake became a director of Vizzihome from which he resigned in 2013.

In July 2007, Kevin Hollinrake was selected as the Conservative candidate for Dewsbury for the 2010 general election.

Kevin Hollinrake was selected to be the Conservative candidate for the seat of Thirsk and Malton at the 2015 general election following the de-selection of Anne McIntosh.

Kevin Hollinrake was a strong supporter of David Cameron's Northern Powerhouse idea, which aims to link the north of England more closely to markets in the south; making it easier to travel, exchange and do business.

In January 2016, Kevin Hollinrake was one of 72 MPs who voted down an amendment in Parliament on rental homes being "fit for human habitation" who were themselves landlords who derived an income from a property.

Kevin Hollinrake was opposed to Brexit before the 2016 referendum.

In 2019, Kevin Hollinrake was one of 72 MPs who voted to not permit same-sex marriages in Northern Ireland.

Kevin Hollinrake served as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Michael Gove as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from June to December 2019.

In 2020, Kevin Hollinrake became one of four Vice-Chairs of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Whistleblowing.

In September 2020, Kevin Hollinrake was criticised for a tweet he made in response to a question about the free school meal campaign run by footballer Marcus Rashford.

Kevin Hollinrake defended himself, stating that tax rises would be required for such action.

In October 2022, Kevin Hollinrake was appointed to the post of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Business and Trade.

On 26 March 2024, Kevin Hollinrake was promoted to minister of state in the Department for Business and Trade but kept his responsibility for the postal affairs portfolio.

On 2 February 2018, Kevin Hollinrake authored an article in The Yorkshire Post titled: "Why I'm supporting fracking in Yorkshire", in which he argued fracking was too good an opportunity to miss and would help tackle climate change.

Critics have argued that shale gas is a fossil fuel and extracting it will make climate change worse, but Kevin Hollinrake has argued it provides part of the transition to a low carbon energy mix.

In May 2015, Kevin Hollinrake said that he would be writing to Amber Rudd, the Secretary of State for Energy, to declare support for "safe and discreet" fracking, as long as sufficient compensation was received locally.

In January 2016, Kevin Hollinrake stood down as Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Oil and Gas after he received complaints from his constituents about funding received from fracking companies.