We are delighted that our MP, Nigel Huddleston (who is also a Badsey Society member), has agreed to deliver the 2026 Richard Phillips Memorial lecture. As many of you will know, until his untimely death, Richard was a neighbour of Nigel’s at the Manor House. Nigel will entertain us with a light-hearted talk about life as an MP. The talk will take place at Badsey Community Sports & Social Club.
Nigel was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Mid Worcestershire, now Droitwich and Evesham, in the May 2015 General Election and was re-elected in 2017, 2019 and 2024. Before becoming an MP Nigel worked for a number of major companies including Deloitte working in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) and Travel, Hospitality and Leisure (THL) practices for several years, during which he was based in the USA, before joining Google as Industry Head of Travel in January 2011.
After entering Parliament, he was elected on to the Culture, Media and Sports Select Committee in 2015. In February 2019 he was appointed Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, with responsibility for the engagement of young people. After a time as an Assistant Government Whip, Nigel joined DCMS in February 2020 as the Sports, Tourism, Heritage and Civil Society Minister. His most notable achievement here was organising the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and helping the tourism and heritage sector survive during the Covid pandemic.
In 2022 Nigel went back to the Whips Office as Lord Commissioner to the Treasury and then became Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for International Trade later that Autumn. In February 2023, he was promoted to Minister for International Trade in the new Department for Business and Trade. In the Cabinet Reshuffle in November 2023, Nigel was appointed Financial Secretary to the Treasury.
Following the General Election in July 2024, Nigel became the Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury and then in November 2024 he was appointed Co-Chair of the Conservative Party. In July 2025 he took on the position of Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
Members free; non-members £2.50.
