Winning the candidacy for the safe Conservative seat of East Surrey when sitting MP Sam Gymiah left the party and joined the Liberal Democrats, Claire Coutinho is undoubtedly a Conservative rising star to keep an eye on.

With a background in mathematics and finance, Coutinho had worked for Merrill Lynch (as one of eight women on a trading floor of 200 people), and KPMG before leaving the City to work in Government and get Brexit done ‘from the inside.’  Working as a special adviser at both Number 10 and HM Treasury, Coutinho has already cultivated strong relationships with other Conservatives considered to be part of the future direction of the party, including Chancellor Sajid Javid and Chief Secretary Rishi Sunak.

Between 2015 and 2017, Coutinho served as Programme Director for the Housing and Finance Institute, which aimed to increase housing supply, and while working for KPMG as Corporate Responsibility Manager, Education, Coutinho led KPMG’s national education programme. Coutinho has made clear that her priorities as an MP will include housing and education policy as well as supporting the farming industry in East Surrey.

Coutinho has also held several policy-based roles including two years at the Centre for Social Justice, a think tank co-founded by Iain Duncan Smith and billed as very influential on the leadership of David Cameron.

Given her connections and experience, it is highly likely that Coutinho will find herself on the Conservative frontbench before too long. Coutinho is definitely an MP to keep a close watch on, as she begins what is likely to be a long and influential parliamentary career.