Simon Clarke was born in North Tees Hospital and grew up in Marton, Middlesbrough.
He has deep roots on Teesside: his grandfather Patrick was a neurosurgeon at Middlesbrough General Hospital and his father Richard worked at Jacksons Solicitors for many years.
He is a lifelong supporter of the Boro.
After leaving school, Simon won a scholarship to Oxford University and then qualified as a solicitor.
He then worked as a policy specialist on health and education.
Simon was elected as Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland in June 2017 and re-elected in December 2019.
Before returning to the back benches, he was appointed Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in September 2022 having previously been appointed as Chief Secretary to the Treasury in September 2021. Other ministerial roles held by Mr Clarke have included Minister of State for Regional Growth and Local Government, a post he held from February to September 2020, and Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury from Summer 2019-2020.
