Editing Greg Hands

{{Short description|British politician (born 1965)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2019}}

{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name                = Greg Hands
| honorific-suffix    = 
| image               = Official portrait of Greg Hands crop 2.jpg
| office              = [[Minister of State for Trade Policy]]
| primeminister       = [[Rishi Sunak]]
| term_start          = 13 November 2023
| term_end            = 5 July 2024
| predecessor         = ''Himself''
| successor           = [[Douglas Alexander]]
| office1             = 
| primeminister1      = [[Liz Truss]]<br>[[Rishi Sunak]]
| term_start1         = 9 October 2022
| term_end1           = 7 February 2023
| predecessor1        = [[Conor Burns]]
| successor1          = ''Himself''
| primeminister2      = [[Boris Johnson]]
| term_start2         = 13 February 2020
| term_end2           = 15 September 2021
| predecessor2        = [[Conor Burns]]
| successor2          = [[Penny Mordaunt]]
| primeminister3      = [[Theresa May]]
| term_start3         = 15 July 2016
| term_end3           = 21 June 2018
| predecessor3        = ''Office established''
| successor3          = [[George Hollingbery]]
| office4             = [[Minister for London]]
| primeminister4      = [[Rishi Sunak]]
| term_start4         = 13 November 2023
| term_end4           = 5 July 2024
| predecessor4        = [[Paul Scully]]
| term_start5         = 13 June 2017
| primeminister5      = [[Theresa May]]
| term_end5           = 9 January 2018
| predecessor5        = [[Gavin Barwell]]
| successor5          = [[Jo Johnson]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes|Cabinet-level offices
|titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder 
|embed=yes
| office6              = [[Chairman of the Conservative Party]]
| leader6              = [[Rishi Sunak]]
| term_start6          = 7 February 2023
| term_end6            = 13 November 2023
| successor6           = [[Richard Holden (British politician)|Richard Holden]]
| predecessor6         = [[Nadhim Zahawi]]
| office7              = [[Minister without portfolio (United Kingdom)|Minister without Portfolio]]
| primeminister7       = [[Rishi Sunak]]
| term_start7          = 7 February 2023
| term_end7            = 13 November 2023
| predecessor7         = [[Nadhim Zahawi]]
| successor7           = [[Richard Holden (British politician)|Richard Holden]]
| office8              = [[Chief Secretary to the Treasury]]
| primeminister8       = [[David Cameron]]
| term_start8          = 11 May 2015
| term_end8            = 14 July 2016
| predecessor8         = [[Danny Alexander]]
| successor8           = [[David Gauke]] {{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes|Junior ministerial offices
|titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office4              = [[Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth]]
| primeminister4       = [[Boris Johnson]]
| term_start4          = 16 September 2021
| term_end4            = 6 September 2022
| predecessor4         = [[Anne-Marie Trevelyan]]
| successor4           = [[Graham Stuart (politician)|Graham Stuart]]

| office5              = [[Chief Whip|Government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Commons]]<br />[[Treasurer of the Household]]
| primeminister5       = [[David Cameron]]
| term_start5          = 7 October 2013
| term_end5            = 11 May 2015
| predecessor5         = [[John Randall, Baron Randall of Uxbridge|John Randall]]
| successor5           = [[Anne Milton]]
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
}}
| office9             = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Chelsea and Fulham]]<br />{{nobold|[[Hammersmith and Fulham (UK Parliament constituency)|Hammersmith and Fulham]] (2005–2010)}}
| term_start9         = 5 May 2005
| term_end9           = 30 May 2024
| predecessor9        = [[Iain Coleman]]
| successor9          = [[Ben Coleman (politician)|Ben Coleman]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1965|11|14|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[New York City]], [[New York (State)|New York]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| citizenship         = British<br />American
| residence           = [[Fulham]], [[London]], England
| education           = [[Dr Challoner's Grammar School]]
| party               = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| spouse              = Irina Hundt (separated)
| children            = 2
| alma_mater          = [[Robinson College, Cambridge]]
| caption             = Official portrait, 2017
| signature           = Greg Hands signature.svg
}}

'''Gregory William Hands''' (born 14 November 1965) is a British politician who served as [[Minister for London]] and [[Minister of State for Trade Policy]] from November 2023 to July 2024. He was the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Chelsea and Fulham]], previously [[Hammersmith and Fulham (UK Parliament constituency)|Hammersmith and Fulham]], from [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]] to [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]. A member of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], he served as its [[Chairman of the Conservative Party|Chairman]] from February to November 2023.<ref name="Hands Chairman Appointment">{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64552127 |work=BBC News |access-date=7 February 2023 |title=Sunak reshuffle: Shapps named energy secretary in department shake-up |date=7 February 2023}}</ref> Hands has served as [[Minister of State for Trade Policy]] under four prime ministers, holding the office on four occasions, ranging from 2016 to 2024, and also served as [[Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth]] from 2021 to 2022.

Hands was the MP for Chelsea and Fulham from [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]] to [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]; the constituency was created that year by the splitting of the former constituencies of [[Kensington and Chelsea (UK Parliament constituency)|Kensington and Chelsea]] and [[Hammersmith and Fulham (UK Parliament constituency)|Hammersmith and Fulham]]. Prior to these boundary changes, he served as the MP for the Hammersmith and Fulham constituency from 2005.

Hands served in Prime Minister [[David Cameron]]'s Cabinet as [[Chief Secretary to the Treasury]] from 2015 until 2016. He voted for the UK to remain in the [[European Union]] during the [[2016 Brexit referendum]].<ref name="BBC News">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35616946 |work=BBC News |access-date=9 September 2019 |title=EU vote: Where the cabinet and other MPs stand |date=22 June 2016}}</ref> Following the referendum vote and Cameron's consequent resignation, Hands was demoted by the new prime minister [[Theresa May]] to a junior ministerial position at the [[Department for International Trade]]. Following the snap [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], Hands retained his position as Minister of State for Trade and Investment but also undertook the [[Minister for London]] role, replacing [[Gavin Barwell]] who lost his seat. Hands resigned in 2018, citing his opposition to the proposed [[expansion of Heathrow Airport]], but returned to the position as Minister of State for Trade Policy in February 2020 under Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]].

In September 2021, Hands was appointed [[Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth]]. Following Johnson's resignation on 6 September 2022, Hands left that position and briefly returned to the [[backbenches]] before being appointed to his former role as Minister of State for Trade Policy by Prime Minister [[Liz Truss]] on 9 October 2022. Following Truss's resignation, he was retained as Trade Minister by new prime minister [[Rishi Sunak]]. Following the dismissal of [[Nadhim Zahawi]] in January 2023, Hands was promoted to Chairman of the Conservative Party by Sunak on 7 February 2023, but was sacked from this role on 13 November 2023. The same day, he was appointed to the role of [[Minister of State for Trade Policy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/greg-hands|title=The Rt Hon Greg Hands MP|publisher=www.gov.uk|access-date=15 November 2023}}</ref> He was appointed Minister for London for a second time a day later.

In the [[2024 United Kingdom general election]], he was [[Unseating|unseated]] by [[Ben Coleman (politician)|Ben Coleman]] from the Labour Party.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Chelsea and Fulham - General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001160 |access-date=2024-07-07 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Early life and career==
Gregory Hands was born on 14 November 1965 to British parents in [[New York City]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sylvester |first1=Rachel |title=Greg Hands: 'I was true to my word on Heathrow. People have a right to expect that' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/greg-hands-i-was-true-to-my-word-on-heathrow-people-have-a-right-to-expect-that-t72zqtjkq |access-date=12 May 2022 |work=[[The Times]] |date=30 June 2018 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> He lived in the United States until he was seven years old and his family moved back to the UK.<ref name="About Greg">{{Cite web|url=https://www.greghands.com/about-greg|title=About Greg|work=Greg Hands MP|access-date=26 April 2020}}</ref> He was educated at [[state school]]s in England,<ref name="Chief Whip">{{cite web |last1=Gimson |first1=Andrew |title=Profile: Greg Hands – the next Conservative Chief Whip? |url=https://conservativehome.com/2014/04/16/profile-by-andrewgimson-greghands-the-next-conservative-chief-whip/ |work=Conservative Home |date=16 April 2014 |access-date=12 May 2022}}</ref> and completed his secondary education at [[Dr Challoner's Grammar School]], [[Amersham]] in 1984.<ref name="About Greg"/>

During his [[gap year]] Hands worked in a swimming pool in [[Berlin]] where he gained the nickname “Tapper;” he became interested in the [[Eastern Bloc]], visiting [[Prague]] and other Eastern European cities on future holidays.<ref name="About Greg"/>

He went on to attend [[Robinson College, Cambridge]], where he graduated with a [[British undergraduate degree classification|first]] in [[Modern History]] in 1989. He joined the Conservative Party as a student, served as the chairman of the [[Cambridge University Conservative Association]], and was on the executive committee of the [[Cambridge University Students' Union]].<ref name="About Greg"/>

Hands spent eight years after university in banking.<ref name="Chief Whip"/> He worked on trading floors in [[Derivative (finance)|derivatives]] at the [[City of London]] and [[New York City]] until 1997.<ref name="About Greg"/>

==Political career==
Hands was elected as a councillor in the [[London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham]] in 1998. He became the leader of the Conservative group in 1999, remaining in that capacity until 2003.<ref name="About Greg"/>

===In opposition===
At the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]], Hands was elected to Parliament as MP for [[Hammersmith and Fulham (UK Parliament constituency)|Hammersmith and Fulham]], winning with 45.4% of the vote and a majority of 5,029.<ref name="electoralcalculus2005">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2005 |url=https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In his [[maiden speech]] on 26 May 2005, Hands referred to the fact that the [[BBC]] was the largest employer in his constituency and that [[Hammersmith Broadway]] was the busiest [[road interchange]] in [[Europe]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm050526/debtext/50526-15.htm#50526-15_spnew1 |title=Hansard Debates for 26 May 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602182952/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm050526/debtext/50526-15.htm#50526-15_spnew1 |archive-date=2 June 2016 |website=parliament.uk |date=26 May 2005}}</ref>

Hands quickly became interested in the subject of MPs expenses, causing the whips to attempt to dissuade him.<ref name="Chief Whip"/>

In 2007, Hands was selected to be the Conservative candidate for the new [[Chelsea and Fulham]] parliamentary constituency. His previous seat of Hammersmith and Fulham was abolished for the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], with [[Hammersmith (UK Parliament constituency)|Hammersmith]] having its own seat (being fought by [[Shaun Bailey, Baron Bailey of Paddington|Shaun Bailey]] for the Conservatives), and Fulham joining Chelsea in a new seat. In January 2009, Hands was appointed to the Conservative front bench team as a shadow Treasury minister. He also became the Parliamentary chairman of Conservative Friends of Poland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cfofp.co.uk/whoweare.php |title=Who We Are |work=Conservative Friends of Poland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103110641/http://www.cfofp.co.uk/whoweare.php |archive-date=3 November 2012}}</ref>

===In government===
====Cameron–Clegg coalition====
At the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], Hands was elected as MP for the newly created constituency of [[Chelsea and Fulham]], winning with 60.5% of the vote and a majority of 16,722.<ref name="electoralcalculus2010">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2010 |url=https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-date=26 July 2013 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref> After the election, Hands served as [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to the [[chancellor of the exchequer]] [[George Osborne]], having shadowed the [[HM Treasury|Treasury]] in opposition.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/8bc18e16-f7c6-11e4-9beb-00144feab7de |title=Profiles: David Cameron's ministerial line-up |work=Financial Times |date=11 May 2015 |access-date=9 February 2017 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f221f654-f8a5-11dd-aae8-000077b07658.html |title=Brown slow to defend bail-out chief |work=Financial Times |date=12 February 2009 |access-date=9 February 2017 |url-access=subscription}}{{dead link|date=July 2019}}</ref>

On 14 October 2011, Hands was appointed as an [[Chief Whip|assistant government whip]] in the House of Commons as a consequence of the mini-reshuffle following the resignation of [[Liam Fox]] as [[Secretary of State for Defence]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments |title=Ministerial Appointments |work=GOV.UK |date=14 October 2011}}</ref>

In 2013, Hands voted in favour of legalising [[same-sex marriage]] in England and Wales.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21346694|publisher=BBC News|access-date=9 September 2019|title=MP-by-MP: Gay marriage vote|date=5 February 2013}}</ref>

Hands was appointed Government Deputy Chief Whip and [[Treasurer of the Household]] in October 2013. In March 2014, he was sworn as a [[Privy Counsellor]], entitling him to the style "[[The Right Honourable]]" for life.<ref name="O5Mar14">{{Cite web |title=Orders for 5 March 2014 |url=http://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/orders-in-council-5-mar-2014.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109181300/http://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/orders-in-council-5-mar-2014.pdf |archive-date=9 November 2015 |access-date=10 October 2022 |publisher=Privy Council Office}}</ref>

====Majority Cameron government====
At the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]], Hands was re-elected as MP as Chelsea and Fulham with an increased vote share of 62.9% and a decreased majority of 16,022.<ref name="electoralcalculus2015">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref><ref>election result {{cite web |title=General Election 7 May 2015 - Hammersmith & Fulham |url=https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/Council_and_Democracy/Democracy_and_Elections/Electoral_services/Useful_links/195233_General_Election_7_May_2015_results.asp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208052356/http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/Council_and_Democracy/Democracy_and_Elections/Electoral_services/Useful_links/195233_General_Election_7_May_2015_results.asp |archive-date=2015-12-08 |access-date=2015-08-21}} 3Aug15</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chelsea & Fulham parliamentary constituency - Election 2017 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000629 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111095533/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000629 |archive-date=11 November 2017 |access-date=24 April 2018 |via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Following the election, Hands was promoted by David Cameron to the Cabinet in the position of [[Chief Secretary to the Treasury]].

Hands campaigned for the UK to remain in the European Union in the [[2016 Brexit referendum]].<ref name="BBC News"/> In the lead-up to the referendum, Hands led the [[Chelsea and Fulham]] [[Britain Stronger in Europe]] campaign.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1082749114155188229|last=Hands|first=Greg|user=GregHands|title=I led the Remain campaign locally|date=8 January 2019|access-date=12 May 2022}}</ref> During the campaign, Hands issued warnings of the consequences for the UK should it leave the European Union, saying that the country would face "profound consequences" including "fewer jobs, higher prices in our shops and less money for our public services like the [[NHS]]".<ref>{{Cite web|title=MP campaigns against Brexit, says could cost 100k jobs & harm NHS|url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/mp-fulham-campaign-against-brexit-11276971|last=Cooper|first=Goolistan|date=7 May 2016|website=getwestlondon|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref> A strong advocate of [[international trade]], he described the European Union's [[European single market|Single Market]] as being the "most complete commitment to free trade that exists".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Swinford|first=Steven|date=3 May 2016|title=Brexit will cost 100,000 jobs, Cabinet minister warns|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/02/brexit-will-cost-100000-jobs-cabinet-minister-warns/|access-date=22 May 2020|issn=0307-1235|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

====May government====
[[File:Batyr Bazarov with Greg Hands in London - 2018 (39809461172).jpg|thumb|265x265px|left|Hands meeting [[Ministry of Finance (Turkmenistan)|Turkmenistani Minister of Finance and Economy]] [[Batyr Bazarov]] in London on 22 January 2018]]

In the 2016 reshuffle following the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|EU referendum]] and [[Theresa May]]'s appointment as prime minister, he was made [[Minister of State for Trade Policy]] at the newly formed [[Department for International Trade]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36811991|work=BBC News|access-date=8 July 2019|title=PM Theresa May makes more ministerial changes|date=17 July 2016}}</ref>

Following the referendum, Hands argued that the UK should leave the European Union with a deal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.greghands.com/news/september-brexit-update-greg-hands|title=September Brexit Update from Greg Hands|work=Greg Hands MP|date=6 September 2019}}</ref> To justify his changed position regarding the UK outside of the European Union, Hands argued that in "the long term" the UK could "independently conclude better contracts with third countries".<ref>{{Cite news|title=Brexit: Wahlkampf mit dem Konservativen Greg Hands|url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/brexit-im-wahlkampf-mit-tory-politiker-greg-hands-a-1300489.html|last=Reichert|first=Isabella|newspaper=Der Spiegel|date=11 December 2019 |language=de|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref> Hands voted against the Withdrawal Agreement in the first Meaningful Vote, but voted in favour of it in the second and third meaningful votes, stating that the deal had been improved.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47748806|work=BBC News|access-date=9 September 2019|title=Brexit: How did my MP vote on the withdrawal agreement?|date=29 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.greghands.com/news/summer-brexit-update-greg-hands-mp|title=Summer Brexit Update from Greg Hands MP|work=Greg Hands MP|date=20 August 2019}}</ref>

At the snap [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], Hands was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 52.6% and a decreased majority of 8,188.<ref>{{cite web |title=Candidates for Chelsea and Fulham Constituency 2017 general election |url=https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/press-release/candidates-chelsea-and-fulham-constituency-2017-general-election |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909190311/https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/press-release/candidates-chelsea-and-fulham-constituency-2017-general-election |archive-date=9 September 2017 |access-date=14 May 2017 |website=Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chelsea and Fulham Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000629 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508044223/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000629 |archive-date=2015-05-08 |website=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7979/CBP-7979.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225205506/http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7979/CBP-7979.pdf |archive-date=2018-02-25 |access-date=2018-02-25}}</ref>

Following the [[Grenfell Tower fire]] which killed 71 people, Hands called for the [[Notting Hill Carnival]] to be moved. He said, "We have to ask ourselves if it is appropriate to stage a Carnival in the near proximity of a major national disaster." The [[mayor of London]], [[Sadiq Khan]], dismissed Hands' proposal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/07/sadiq-khan-rejects-call-to-move-notting-hill-carnival-after-grenfell-fire|access-date=8 July 2019|title=Sadiq Khan rejects call to move Notting Hill carnival after Grenfell fire|date=7 July 2017|work=The Guardian|first=Kevin|last=Rawlinson}}</ref><ref name="independent">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/notting-hill-carnival-moving-grenfell-tower-fire-sadiq-khan-greg-hands-tory-minister-government-a7828626.html |title=Tory minister wants to move Notting Hill Carnival because of Grenfell Tower fire disaster |work=The Independent |date=7 July 2017 |first=Lucy |last=Pasha-Robinson |access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref>

On 21 June 2018, Hands resigned his ministerial post to vote against a [[Expansion of Heathrow Airport|third runway]] at [[Heathrow Airport]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-44561170|work=BBC News|access-date=8 July 2019|title=Greg Hands quits as minister over Heathrow expansion|date=21 June 2018}}</ref>

Following the third defeat of the [[Brexit withdrawal agreement]] in the House of Commons in March 2019, Hands co-chaired the Prosperity UK Alternative Arrangements Commission. This body looked at alternatives to the [[Irish backstop]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/brexit/tory-mp-greg-hands-weve-found-a-solution-to-the-brexit-backstop-38429347|work=Belfast Telegraph|access-date=9 September 2019|title=Tory MP Greg Hands: We've found a solution to the Brexit backstop|date=23 August 2019}}</ref>

Alongside former neighbouring MPs [[Justine Greening]] and [[Zac Goldsmith]], Hands has been critical of the [[London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham]]'s April 2019 decision to close [[Hammersmith Bridge]] to motor vehicles, and has called for the bridge to be promptly repaired and re-opened.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/we-demand-hammersmith-bridge-repaired-16154295|work=MyLondon|access-date=9 September 2019|title='We demand Hammersmith Bridge is repaired and re-opened' say MPs|last=Sheppard|first=Owen|date=19 April 2019}}</ref>

During the [[2019 Conservative Party leadership election|2019 Conservative leadership election]], Hands was one of the first MPs to declare their support for [[Jeremy Hunt]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/i-cannot-imagine-a-better-prime-minister-than-jeremy-hunt-vbxn28phw|work=[[The Times]]|access-date=9 September 2019|title=I cannot imagine a better prime minister than Jeremy Hunt|last=Hands|first=Greg|date=4 June 2019|url-access=subscription}}</ref> During the campaign, Hands wrote to [[Boris Johnson]] requesting that he review the Government's decision to build a [[Expansion of Heathrow Airport|third runway]] at [[Heathrow Airport]].<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1142724398618689536|last=Hands|first=Greg|user=GregHands|title=I have today written to @BorisJohnson asking him to set up a Review into the Heathrow 3rd Runway, similar to the one he announced yesterday on HS2, if he becomes Prime Minister.|date=23 June 2019|access-date=12 May 2022}}</ref> Hunt ultimately lost the contest to Johnson in the final round.

====Johnson government====
Hands was again re-elected at the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], with a decreased vote share of 49.9% and an increased majority of 11,241.<ref>{{cite web |title=Candidates for Chelsea and Fulham Constituency 2019 general election |url=https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/sites/default/files/section_attachments/chelsea_and_fulham_statement_of_persons_nominated_general_election_2019.pdf |access-date=15 Nov 2019 |website=London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC News: Chelsea & Fulham Parliamentary constituency|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000629|date=December 2019|website=BBC News}}</ref>

Hands was appointed [[Minister of State for Trade Policy]] in the [[second Johnson ministry]] during the [[2020 British cabinet reshuffle|2020 cabinet reshuffle]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/greg-hands|access-date=7 May 2020|work=GOV.UK|title=Minister of State for Trade Policy|date=23 February 2020}}</ref>

In May 2020, Parliament's [[Standards and Privileges Committee]] censured Hands for misusing public funds relating to stationery and pre-paid [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] envelopes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/290/committee-on-standards/news/115157/committee-on-standards-publishes-report-on-greg-hands/|access-date=7 May 2020|work=UK Parliament|title=Committee on Standards Publishes Report on Greg Hands|date=4 May 2020}}</ref> In November 2021, Hands followed his party [[three line whip]] to vote to overhaul the Standards and Privileges Committee.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2021-11-03c.938.0&s=%22You+might+find+it+shameful%2C+but+I+think+I+am+in+charge.%22#g968.1|access-date=4 November 2021|work=TheyWorkForYou|publisher=mySociety|title=Committee on Standards – Motion as amended|date=3 November 2021}}</ref>

==== Truss government ====
Hands was appointed [[Minister of State for Trade Policy]] on 9 October 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-63194208|title=Greg Hands named trade minister after Conor Burns sacking|date=9 October 2022|work=BBC News}}</ref>

==== Sunak government ====
Following the firing of [[Nadhim Zahawi]] in January 2023, Hands was appointed as his replacement as [[Chairman of the Conservative Party]] in a subsequent cabinet reshuffle. As chairman, Hands was responsible for party administration and the organisation of the [[Conservative Campaign Headquarters]].<ref name="Hands Chairman Appointment" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sparrow |first=Andrew |date=2023-02-07 |title=Rishi Sunak reshuffle: Greg Hands set to be next Tory party chair, reports say – live updates |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2023/feb/07/rishi-sunak-to-hold-limited-cabinet-shuffle-zahawi-dominic-raab-uk-politics-live |access-date=2023-02-07 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In the [[November 2023 British cabinet reshuffle]], Hands was replaced as Conservative Party chairman, and Hands returned to the role of Minister of State for Trade Policy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-november-2023|title=Ministerial appointments: November 2023|publisher=www.gov.uk|date=13 November 2023|access-date=15 November 2023}}</ref> Returning to his previous brief, he joked, "I even kept my business cards from last time."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Jennifer |date=14 November 2023 |title=Rishi Sunak's reshuffle: David Cameron makes surprise return as foreign secretary - here's who is in and out of cabinet |url=https://news.sky.com/story/david-cameron-appointed-foreign-secretary-in-shock-cabinet-reshuffle-move-13007124 |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref> Hands was made Minister of London as well.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/paul-scully-london-mp-tory-mayoral-candidate-susan-hall-rishi-sunak-reshuffle-b1120160.html|title=Former Tory Party chairman Greg Hands becomes minister for London after Paul Scully ousted|first=Jitendra|last=Joshi|publisher=Evening Standard|date=14 November 2023|access-date=15 November 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Hands has dual American/British nationality.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/nov/06/hugh-muir-diary-barack-obama |title=Diary |first=Hugh |last=Muir |work=The Guardian |date=6 November 2008 |access-date=12 May 2022}}</ref> He lives in [[Fulham]]<ref name="About Greg"/> with his German wife Irina,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/international-trade-minister-greg-hands-reveals-his-nine-year-old-son-wept-cried-over-brexit-vote_uk_5a5f8485e4b0ccf9f120ca36?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvLnVrLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGE-Tq6-W2WExEK8gGGqZnbdAcMfmnlOqhTNQQM_38mI-gp_hMoz6paEBMcurlue4rG9tTszWpQ36hJKi93f3_pCPyIAr4VJGGs1HMzHdU8A0AyAMzeiykF_AQ6wRHGeidLgkl2EkPvy0L8rHQocVuaCofik33wNYy4_HDyR7Txp|work=HuffPost|date=17 January 2018|first=Paul|last=Waugh|title=International Trade Minister Greg Hands Reveals His Son Wept Over Brexit Vote|access-date=8 July 2019|publisher=Oath}}</ref> and their son and daughter.<ref name="About Greg"/> Hands says that he speaks five European languages, including German and Czech.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=920772697860329473|user=GregHands|first=Greg|last=Hands|title=This is the letter I wrote to all 11,000+ EU nationals in Chelsea & Fulham last month. Very good response. Blew the postage budget though.|date=18 October 2017}}</ref>

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], his father, Edward, died with COVID-19 in a UK care home.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-government-minister-greg-hands-reveals-fathers-death-linked-to-covid-19-11974440|title=Coronavirus: Government minister Greg Hands reveals father's death linked to COVID-19|date=17 April 2020|work=Sky News|last=McGuinness|first=Alan|access-date=12 May 2020}}</ref>

Hands supports [[Plymouth Argyle]] and has appeared as a guest at supporters' association events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pasalb.london/40th-anniversary-celebration/|title=40th Anniversary Celebration|date=27 November 2016|website=PLYMOUTH ARGYLE SUPPORTERS ASSOCIATION LONDON BRANCH|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://www.greghands.com/ Official website]
*{{UK MP links |parliament=greg-hands/1526 |hansardcurr=4787 |publicwhip=Greg_Hands |theywork=greg_hands}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/user/GregHandsMPvideo Greg Hands MP Channel] YouTube

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{{Chief Secretaries to the Treasury}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hands, Greg}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Alumni of Robinson College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:American emigrants to England]]
[[Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]]
[[Category:Councillors in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:People educated at Dr Challoner's Grammar School]]
[[Category:Politicians from New York City]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2005–2010]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2010–2015]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2015–2017]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2017–2019]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2019–2024]]
[[Category:Chief Secretaries to the Treasury]]
[[Category:Chairmen of the Conservative Party (UK)]]
[[Category:Ministers without portfolio]]