About Maria Hutchings

A campaigner for special needs children and carers, Maria hit the headlines when she ‘hand bagged’ Tony Blair over the closure of special schools. She is now investing that passion to serve the people of Eastleigh too.

Maria lives in West End, in the heart of the constituency. She is married to Stuart (Marketing Manager for a group of electronics companies) and they have four children. Maria believes that family, improved early year’s outcomes for our children and community values are foundations to building upon Great Britain.

A cellist, pianist and dancer, Maria was awarded a place at London University to study a BA in dance and religion. But politics was too strong a pull and she finally read, and was awarded, a BA (hons) in Social Science and Public Administration. Her options were in social psychology and race relations. Her dissertation: “Societal views on the plight of battered wives”.

Maria is the daughter of John, who served in the 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and Vicky, who worked in a clothing factory. She has a strong sense of duty and a commitment to supporting the armed forces. In fact in February 2008 she and Eastleigh Conservatives were award winners in The National Excellence Awards for their social action project In It Together, a project that sees youngsters and senior citizens working to help our servicemen and women, and their families.

CARING AND CAMPAIGNING

She has spent the last thirteen years taking care of her remarkable son John Paul, who was diagnosed with autism, severe learning disabilities and severe, specific language disorder.

She has worked tirelessly to support special schools and to fight for a better deal in education, respite services and speech and language therapy for disabled children. has spent the last thirteen years taking care of her remarkable son John Paul, who was diagnosed with autism, severe l

THE BUSINESS WORLD

Maria has worked in the Communications Industry for twenty six years. Her clients have ranged from small businesses to blue chips such as EMI Records, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Texaco. Her specialisms in communications are recruitment and new business development.

She has also worked in Malta, where she was a radio broadcaster, with a daily show, for the first English speaking radio station.

Currently, she is working as a Communications Consultant in Eastleigh.

EASTLEIGH

Maria’s main focus now is listening to, and serving, the people of the Eastleigh constituency. She is working with her team to combat over-development and the consequent infrastructure problems (particularly in Botley), fighting the gravel pits in the Hamble Peninsula, the closure of post offices and campaigning to make parking make sense in the area.

Maria’s “spare time” is spent with her family; walking, swimming, making music and keeping their marine aquarium.ea