Caroline Houghton

Caroline Irene Houghton (born 19 April 1985) is a British politician who has served as First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for the Home Department since 2019, Minister of State for Infectious Disease Prevention since 2022 and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Huntingdon since 2012. A member of the Conservative and Unionist party, she is positioned on the party's right wing and has often spoken about her Thatcherite beliefs.

Houghton was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire to a British-Irish family. Caroline was educated at the University of Lincoln, studying a degree in Economics; before she had attended the University of Cambridge to study a degree in Public Policy. Caroline had expressed an interest in politics from a young age, inspired by the likes of Margaret Thatcher - she had worked as an intern at her local Conservative headquarters. In 2013, Houghton was scouted by the Conservative Party as an ideal candidate to fit the Conservative' safe seat of Huntingdon. She had succeeded in the local election with an astounding majority.

Having supported George Wellesley in the Leadership contest, she was subsequently appointed as Secretary of State for International Development; before later being appointed as Home Secretary as well as First Secretary of State. She has been noted for her outspoken nature as well as socially conservative stances.

In the year of 2021, Caroline had contracted the rapidly spreading Carioca Orthohantavirus and subsequently entered a state of complete self isolation. During this time, Houghton maintained the duties of her office through the use of video conference technologies. She was widely praised for her resilience and determination during this time. In the Government's response to the COHVS outbreak; Ms. Houghton was appointed Minister of State for Infectious Disease Prevention and now stands at the forefront of the Government's work to restrict the spread of the virus.

Ms. Houghton was appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln in the year of 2022 and gives regular guest lectures within the department of politics. In the May of 2022 a "Fish and Chip" shop renamed itself in her honour to Houghton's Plaice, since then it has seen an increase in business and is contracted by the Home Office for all formal dinners.