David Warburton Wife: Who is Harriet Baker-Bates?

Harriet Baker-Bates is a public relations professional and the wife of David Warburton, a British politician and member of the Conservative Party.

The couple got married in 2002. They have  two children Cecily and James Warburton

Harriet Baker-Bates is the daughter of the diplomat Merrick Baker-Bates CMG, former Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia and British Consul General in Los Angeles.

Warburton hires his wife as a personal assistant for up to £25,000 per year. In 2015, he was mentioned in articles in the Daily Telegraph and the Guardian criticising the practice of MPs hiring family members, claiming that it promotes nepotism.

Although MPs first elected in 2017 are prohibited from employing family members, the prohibition is not retroactive, so Warburton’s employment of his wife is legal.

David Warburton has been representing the Somerton and Frome constituency as a Member of Parliament (MP) since May 2015.

As an MP, Warburton has worked towards supporting local businesses, promoting economic growth, and addressing issues affecting the rural communities he represents. He has also expressed a commitment to ensuring effective representation for his constituents and actively listening to their concerns and needs.

In June 2023, Warburton announced he was resigning as an Member of Parliament, triggering a by-election.