Dr Caroline Johnson is the Conservative MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, having first been elected to parliament in a by-election on 8 December 2016.

In the 2024 general election, Johnson won 17,348 votes, representing 35.7% of the vote. The Labour candidate, Hanif Khan, received 13,002 votes (26.8%), while the Reform UK candidate, Benjamin Jackson, secured 10,484 votes (21.6%). Johnson was duly elected with a majority of 4,346 votes.

The Sleaford and North Hykeham constituency is a large rural seat in Lincolnshire, including the towns of Sleaford and North Hykeham. It is considered one of the safest Conservative seats in the UK, held by the party since its creation in 1997. The 2016 by-election followed the resignation of the previous Conservative MP, Stephen Phillips, who quit over “irreconcilable policy differences” with the government.

Political Career

Johnson was appointed as shadow minister of state for health and social care on the Conservative frontbench in July 2024, taking up the post in the interim/caretaker shadow cabinet created after the general election of that year under Rishi Sunak’s leadership. Kemi Badenoch, elected Conservative leader in November 2024, retained Johnson in this post in her inaugural cabinet reshuffle, July 2025 reshuffle and August/September 2026 reshuffle.

Johnson is also a member of the House of Commons education select committee (since October 2024). The education committee scrutinises the work of the Department for Education (DfE) and its associated public bodies.

She previously served as parliamentary under-secretary of state for mental health and public health from September to October 2022 under prime ministers Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. Before this, she was vice-chair of the Conservative Party.

Johnson resigned from this post in July 2022 as part of the mass walkout of ministers that ultimately forced Boris Johnson to announce his own resignation.

In her resignation letter, Johnson stated:“This is not a decision I have arrived at lightly, and it has been an honour to work as part of your team. I have been loyal and supported you throughout your time as prime minister since you took office in 2019.”

Johnson said that the cumulative effect of Johnson’s “errors of judgment and domestic actions have squandered the goodwill the party”

She pleaded with the prime minister to “make a dignified exit”.

Johnson added: “I believe that attempting to stay when the writing is on the wall can only damage our Party and therefore our country.”

Johnson’s past select committee service includes the health and social care committee (2017-18 and 2022-24), the environment, food and rural affairs committee (2017-19), the education committee (2020-22), and the human rights joint committee (2023-24).

She is listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) for emerging drugs and online behavioural trends and youth employment.

Johnson delivered her maiden speech on 1 February 2017 during a debate on the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill.

In it, she said: “Sleaford and North Hykeham is not only the constituency that I am proud to represent; it is my home, and I feel a personal responsibility to nurture it. It is a thriving, predominantly agricultural area, with pockets of industry and a strong military tradition.”

She added: “As someone new to the world of Westminster, the greatest surprise to me was that so many seemed surprised by the result of the EU referendum. I was brought up to believe that a good democracy is ruled by the majority, with protection for minorities. As I talk to my constituents, however, I increasingly understand that they perceive that we have rule by a vocal minority elite who are disregarding the views of the majority, and they are angry.”

Political views

Leadership elections and loyalty

Tory leadership 2024: Johnson supported Robert Jenrick’s candidacy in the 2024 Conservative Party leadership election. The contest was triggered by the resignation of Rishi Sunak following the party’s defeat in the 2024 general election.

Jenrick, a former immigration minister, positioned himself on the right wing of the party, advocating for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). He emerged as an early frontrunner, topping the first two parliamentary ballots. After reaching the final two, he was defeated in the membership vote by Kemi Badenoch, receiving 41,388 votes (43.5%) compared to Badenoch’s 53,806 (56.5%).

Tory leadership 2022 (I): Johnson supported Badenoch’s candidacy in the Conservative Party’s July-September 2022 leadership election. The contest was triggered by the resignation of Boris Johnson, following the mass exodus of more than 60 frontbenchers.

Badenoch, who had resigned as a local government minister, was seen as a combative culture warrior. Having gained significant momentum among the party’s right wing, she was eliminated in the fourth parliamentary ballot on 19 July after receiving 59 votes. Johnson subsequently backed Liz Truss’ candidacy.

Truss, the then-foreign secretary, campaigned on a platform of sweeping tax cuts. After finishing second in the final parliamentary ballot with 113 votes, she won the subsequent vote of the party membership with 81,326 votes (57.4%) and was appointed prime minister on 6 September.

Tory leadership 2022 (II): Johnson supported Boris Johnson’s explored candidacy in the Conservative Party’s October 2022 leadership election. The contest was triggered by the resignation of Liz Truss after just 45 days in office, following the financial and political tailspin triggered by her “mini-budget”.

Johnson, who had resigned as prime minister only months earlier, initially sought a return to office and claimed to have secured the 100 nominations required to proceed. However, he announced his withdrawal on 23 October, stating that “you can’t govern effectively unless you have a united party in parliament.” Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers, later confirmed that Johnson had indeed secured the 100 MPs necessary to force a ballot of the Conservative membership – which he could well have won.

Tory leadership 2019: Johnson supported Boris Johnson for the party’s leadership in 2019. The election was triggered by the resignation of Theresa May following her inability to secure a Brexit deal acceptable to the Conservative Party.

Johnson, the former foreign secretary and mayor of London, campaigned on the central pledge to “deliver Brexit” by 31 October 2019, “deal or no deal”. He thereby positioned himself as the candidate best-placed to break the parliamentary deadlock. Johnson secured 114 votes in the first parliamentary ballot, and reached 160 votes in the final MP round. In the subsequent ballot of the party membership, Johnson won a decisive victory with 92,153 votes (66.4%).

Factional identity and party tradition

European Research Group: Johnson has been associated with the European Research Group (ERG). During the Conservative Party’s last stint in government, the ERG emerged as a highly influential Tory faction composed of staunchly eurosceptic MPs. Founded in 1993, the group played a pivotal role in shaping the UK’s exit from the European Union, consistently advocating for a “hard” Brexit.

Its members were generally and often stridently critical of the withdrawal agreement negotiated by Theresa May. Chaired variously by Mark Francois, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Steve Baker and Suella Braverman, the group proved instrumental in May’s downfall as prime minister.

Rwanda rebellion (amendments): In January 2024, Johnson was one of around 60 Conservative MPs who supported amendments to the government’s Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill. The amendments, proposed by Conservative MPs Sir Bill Cash and Robert Jenrick, sought to strengthen the proposed legislation by limiting the ability of individual asylum seekers to prevent their deportation to Rwanda, under the terms of the government’s flagship removals scheme. The rebellion was composed of Tory MPs on the right of the party.

Brexit and Europe

Brexit referendum: Johnson supported Leave in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and therefore agreed with a majority of constituents, 61.6% of whom also voted to Leave.

Article 50: In February 2017, Johnson voted in favour of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. The legislation empowered the prime minister to notify the Council of the European Union of the UK’s intention to withdraw, formally triggering the process set out in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. MPs supported the bill by 498 votes to 114 at second reading.

Customs union vote (2025): In December 2025, Johnson voted against the UK-EU Customs Union (Duty to Negotiate) Bill. The bill, introduced under the ten-minute rule procedure by Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton, sought to mandate the government to enter into negotiations with the European Union to establish a bespoke customs union.

Assisted dying

Johnson voted against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, better known as the assisted dying bill, at both second reading (November 2024) and third reading (June 2025).

Social values and conscience issues

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Johnson voted against a backbench amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that sought to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales in June 2025. The amendment, which was passed by a majority of 242 votes, removed women from the threat of prosecution for ending a pregnancy at any stage. As an issue of conscience, MPs were allowed to vote according to their personal beliefs.

Foreign policy and security

Sanctioned (Russia): In April 2022, Johnson was among the group of MPs placed on a sanctions list by the Russian government. The measure barred them from entering Russia and was presented by Moscow as a retaliatory response to the UK’s stance on the invasion of Ukraine.

Before Politics

Born Caroline Elizabeth Burton in Middlesbrough on 31 December 1977.

She attended Gordonstoun School – the same school as King Charles – in Scotland. She studied medicine at Newcastle University Medical School, graduating in 2001. She qualified as a consultant paediatrician in 2012.

She continues to work part-time as a consultant paediatrician at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust (Peterborough City Hospital).

Personal Life

Caroline married Nik Johnson, who runs a fertiliser business, in 2001. They live in Sudbrook, Lincolnshire, and have three children.

Trivia

Johnson took part in the 2024 London marathon.