Sarah Elizabeth Dines (Conservative Party), Minister of Parliament for Derbyshire Dales

Blog Post: The Controversial Tenure of Sarah Elizabeth Dines, MP for Derbyshire Dales

Sarah Elizabeth Dines, the Conservative MP for Derbyshire Dales, has garnered attention not only for her political roles but also for a series of controversial actions and statements. Her political journey, marked by her alignment with key Tory figures and contentious policy stances, raises questions about her representation of Derbyshire Dales.

Support for Prominent Tories: Boris Johnson and Liz Truss

Dines held the position of Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Boris Johnson until February 2022, demonstrating her close alignment with his administration. Her roles evolved from a Junior Government Whip to a Junior Justice and Home Office Minister, and eventually to Lord Commissioner of the Treasury under Liz Truss. Her enthusiastic support for Truss, expressed after Truss won the Conservative Party leadership, illustrates her alignment with the Tory establishment.

Controversial Stance on LGBTQ+ Rights

Dines’ approach to LGBTQ+ issues has been contentious. During a debate on anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime, she cautioned against being “too hysterical” in language, despite acknowledging the unacceptable nature of hate crimes. This statement came against a backdrop of rising LGBTQ+ hate crimes in England and Wales, including a 41% increase in sexual orientation hate crimes and a 56% increase in transgender hate crimes in the year ending March 2022. Her remarks were criticized as dismissive of the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals and indicative of her disconnect with the communit.

Environmental Record: A Green Policy Critique

Dines’ voting record raises concerns about her commitment to environmental issues. She has generally voted against measures to prevent climate change, with 11 votes against and only 5 for such measures between 2021 and 2022. This pattern aligns with a broader trend among comparable Conservative MPs, reflecting a stance that may be seen as neglectful of urgent environmental challenges.

Equality and Human Rights Voting Record

Further scrutiny reveals a consistent pattern of voting against laws promoting equality and human rights. Dines’ voting record shows 0 votes for and 4 against such laws, mirroring a similar trend among her Conservative peers. This record raises questions about her commitment to advancing a more equitable and inclusive society.

Conclusion

Sarah Elizabeth Dines’ tenure as the MP for Derbyshire Dales is marked by her strong support for key figures in the Conservative Party, questionable responses to critical social issues, and a voting record that seems to neglect pressing environmental concerns. Her approach to LGBTQ+ rights and equality issues, coupled with her environmental stance, paint a picture of an MP whose views and actions are increasingly at odds with the progressive and inclusive aspirations of many within her constituency and beyond.