I’m Theo Clarke and I am a mother, birth trauma campaigner, and author. I am also one of the United Kingdom's delegates to the Council of Europe.
I was the MP for Stafford from 2019-24. Whilst an MP, I unfortunately suffered birth trauma. This led to me meeting with inspirational groups of women - including the Birth Trauma Association - and to found the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Birth Trauma. Over the course of ten months, we held the first national inquiry into birth trauma in British history. Our report and recommendations were launched on the 13th of May 2024, in the presence of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Shadow Cabinet Ministers, birth trauma organisations, mothers who suffered birth trauma, and the national press.
I am pleased to say that the then-Government immediately accepted many of our recommendations, and both the Labour and Conservative parties committed to implementing our recommendations in their 2024 manifestos. My focus is on campaigning for the Government to implement our recommendations, for NHS Trusts to adopt new best-practices, and to ensure that birth trauma is minimised.
Besides birth trauma, I have a keen interest in the arts and international development. I founded and worked for organisations in both of these areas before becoming and MP - including being the Chief Executive of the Coalition for Global Prosperity. Whilst an MP, I was a member of All-Party Parliamentary Groups which promoted both the arts and international development.
My guiding mantra whilst an MP was to 'get stuff done'. This will always be at the heart of everything I do.