Stuart James Andrew was born in 1971 where he spent the first few years of his life in the famous tongue-twisting village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch on the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales. Stuart grew up on a council estate, during which time his father was a welder and experienced periods of long-term unemployment and his mother worked in a newsagent’s.
Stuart left school after completing his A-Levels and started work for the then-Department of Social Security. However, having always had a keen interest in fundraising and voluntary work, he took the opportunity to join the British Heart Foundation in 1994. This helped to gain valuable experience in the voluntary sector which then lead to roles at Hope House Children's Hospice and East Lancashire Hospice. He was later appointed Fundraising Manager at Martin House Children's Hospice where he was responsible for leading a team charged with raising £4 million a year.
Stuart's passion for politics stems from many years of involvement in the local community.
He was elected to Leeds City Council in 2003 when he gained the Labour seat of Aireborough for the Conservatives. Following boundary changes, he then became the representative for the Guiseley and Rawdon Ward. He was a member of the Planning Panel and a keen campaigner against excessive developments in his Ward (which he continues to be). He was also the Lead Member for the Development Department and had particular responsibility for Transport Policy in the City. During this time, he helped to draw up the Local Transport Plan for West Yorkshire with members of neighbouring authorities.
In May 2010, he was honoured to be elected as the Member of Parliament for Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough, with the Conservatives in Government.
In 2012 he was made Parliamentary Private Secretary to Francis Maude MP, then-Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General. He also brought forward a Bill that would create a new power for Governors to destroy or otherwise dispose of any unauthorised property found within a prison or an escort vehicle. The bill was supported by both the Coalition and also the Labour Party, with the then-Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, Sadiq Khan, expressing his support for it.
In the 2015 General Election, Stuart was re-elected with a majority of 4,501.
Stuart then took on the role of Parliamentary Private Secretary to Patrick McLoughlin MP, the then-Secretary of State for Transport.
Stuart had always taken an active role in All Party Parliamentary Groups during his parliamentary career, including chairing the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Heart Disease, Islamophobia and Children Who Need Palliative Care prior to being appointed to serve in the Government.
In September 2016, Stuart was announced as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Patrick McLoughlin in his capacity as Party Chairman and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Stuart was also appointed the Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party with specific responsibility for Cities.
Following the June 2017 General Election, Stuart was re-elected to Parliament and appointed as an Assistant Government Whip, and in January 2018 also the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales.
In July 2018, Stuart was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for Defence Procurement at the Ministry of Defence. Stuart enjoyed this role for a year before returning to the Government Whips Office in July 2019 as Vice Chamberlain of Her Majesty's Household.
In December 2019, Stuart was re-elected for the fourth consecutive time with a majority of 3,517.
Stuart returned to his role within the Government Whip's Office on re-election, and was promoted to Deputy Chief Whip in February 2020.
In February 2021, Stuart was appointed to the Privy Council by the late Her Majesty the Queen, receiving the title of The Right Honourable Stuart Andrew MP.
In February 2022, Stuart became Minister for Housing at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities until resigning from the Government in July 2022. Stuart agreed to hold the interim position of Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice while the Conservative Party leadership election took place to help ensure the stability and continuation of Government.
In September 2022, Stuart became Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and was reappointed to this role in October 2022. He was also pleased to be asked to take on the brief of Minister for Equalities in October 2022.
Following the Boundary Review, the constituency of Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough was divided across two new constituencies of Leeds West and Pudsey, and Leeds North West. As a result, Stuart was displaced as a Member of Parliament, considered to no longer have a seat. With the General Election announced for 4 July 2024, Stuart's time as the Member of Parliament for Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough came to an end.
In June 2024, Stuart was delighted to be selected as the Conservative Party Candidate for the Daventry Constituency, an opportunity to continue his passion for public service. In July 2024, Stuart was delighted to be elected with a majority of 3,012.
Now in Opposition, Stuart was appointed interim Opposition Chief Whip. In November 2024, Stuart was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by the new Leader of the Opposition.