16 Facts About Mike Weatherley

Michael Richard Weatherley was a British Conservative Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Hove in East Sussex from 2010 to 2015.

Mike Weatherley was born in Clevedon, Somerset, on 2 July 1957, the son of Derrick and Kirsten Mike Weatherley.

Mike Weatherley was educated at Aiglon College in Switzerland and Kent College, a private school near Canterbury, Kent, and read business studies at London South Bank University.

In 2007, Mike Weatherley became vice-president of Motion Picture Licensing Corporation; in 2019, he became its vice-chairman and CEO.

In 2006, Mike Weatherley secured a seat on his local Crawley Borough Council, winning the Conservative-held ward of Furnace Green, and defeating the Labour candidate, 2005 Big Brother contestant Eugene Sully.

Mike Weatherley was finally successful in entering parliament at the 2010 general election, in which he defeated the sitting Labour MP Celia Barlow with a majority of 1,868.

Mike Weatherley rejected claims in March 2013 that, as originator of the legislation, he was responsible for a homeless man freezing to death while sleeping outside an empty bungalow.

Mike Weatherley had an interest in protecting intellectual property rights, and was a member of the All Party Parliamentary Intellectual Property Group, one of the main objectives of which is to highlight intellectual property rights.

Mike Weatherley campaigned against the repeal of the Hunting Act 2004, stating that "hunting foxes with hounds is a cruel and inhumane practice," and pledging to vote against any measure which would lead to the ban being overturned.

Mike Weatherley campaigned against the implementation of the proposed ban on the retail display of tobacco products, arguing that it would damage trade for small businesses.

Mike Weatherley wrote to David Cameron in favour of same-sex couples gaining equal marriage rights, advocating that religious organisations should be forced to register such ceremonies, which caused controversy.

Mike Weatherley was the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Business and Retail Crime, along with various other APPGs.

Mike Weatherley was a vice-president of the Debating Group, and a supporter of the Free Enterprise Group.

Mike Weatherley had two sons and a daughter with his first wife, Anne Hyslop.

Mike Weatherley was a qualified ski instructor and football referee, and played centre-forward for the Martha Gunners.

Michael Mike Weatherley died of lung cancer on 20 May 2021, at age 63.