Biography

Home Background

I was born in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, the youngest of three sons.

My father, John George, was a solicitor, and he died when I was four. My mother, Nina Joan (nee Stanbrook) was a teacher and she died when I was fifteen. I then lived with my brothers, Henry and Charles, then with my mother's parents. I am very close to my maternal grandmother, "Nanna".

I currently live in Surbiton with my wife, Emily.

Education Background

I went to Nottingham High School (1974-84), as have MPs from both other parties, including Kenneth Clarke and Geoff Hoon, and the Chancellor's economics adviser, Ed Balls. I was head boy at the school when the Duke of Edinburgh visited.

After school, I took a 'year off' when I worked in a pork pie factory and for Boots plc, hitch hiked round Spain and worked as a holiday courier in France.

I took a first class honours degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Jesus College, Oxford (1985-1988). Although I was not involved in any of the political societies at Oxford, I was active in a campaigning environmental group and was elected President of the College's Junior Common Room.

Post-University Career

After university, I became the Economics Researcher to the Liberal Democrats in Parliament, working in the Commons from 1989 to 1993, primarily for Alan Beith and Paddy Ashdown.

After becoming the party's Senior Economics Advisor, I was closely involved in developing policies such as the penny on income tax for education and making the Bank of England independent. I was also in charge of costing the election manifesto in 1992. During this time, I studied in the evenings at Birkbeck College, London University, gaining an MSc in Economics.

In 1993, I left Parliament to work for a management consultancy firm called Omega Partners where I specialised in postal services. With Omega Partners, I visited 28 countries and worked on projects for Post Offices in countries such as Belgium, South Africa, Sweden and Taiwan. My work ranged from strategic market analysis to business forecasting.

During my time at Omega, I remained an active Liberal Democrat, serving on the Federal Policy Committee and various other policy groups.

Political Career

In March 1995 I was selected to fight for Kingston and Surbiton. The Liberal Democrats' success in local Council elections plus boundary changes meant that we were strongly placed to challenge the incumbent Conservative in the General Election.

The seat was won at the 1997 General Election after three recounts in an Election which saw the Conservative MP in the area defeated for the first time in history.

In the 2001 General Election, the seat was held, with the largest swing in the country, seeing the majority increase from 56 to 15,676.

Parliament

1997 Parliament:

Once elected in 1997, I was appointed as the Economics Affairs Spokesman by Paddy Ashdown, working closely with Malcolm Bruce in the Treasury team.

I was promoted by Charles Kennedy to be the Deputy in the Treasury under Matthew Taylor, with responsibility for public spending and taxation policy.

In early 2000, I took over from Simon Hughes as the Liberal Democrat Spokesman on London, closely working with Susan Kramer's campaign.

I served on the Treasury Select Committee from 1999 to 2001. I also sat on several Standing Committees, including every Finance Bill of the Parliament, the Bank of England and the Government Resources and Accounts Bills, as well as the Government for London Bill.

2001 Parliament:

At the start of the 2001 Parliament, Charles Kennedy promoted me into the Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, a post that I served until 2002.

In October 2002 I was appointed to shadow the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with responsibility for Local Government and the Regions. This has seen my lead a national campaign to scrap the unfair council tax, as well as championing the cause of more affordable housing.

I've worked on a variety of bills including reforms of housing, local government, regional government, the planning system and fire services.

2005 Parliament:

Following re-election in 2005, I was appointed as Shadow Education and Skills Secretary by Charles Kennedy, I post that I held until the election of Menzies Campbell as new leader of the Liberal Democrats in March 2006.

During that month I was put in charge of the Trade and Industry Brief, as well as being tasked to undertake a review of Liberal Democrat campaigning techniques.

In December of 2006, I became Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Liberal Demcorats, Sir Menzies Campbell. 

Constituency

In Kingston and Surbiton, I hold two advice surgeries a week, eight times more than my Conservative predecessors managed. I live in the constituency and take up many local issues. Every Monday morning at 8am, residents of Surbiton and Kingston can find me at my constituency office at Berrylands Road to share any concerns or questions they may have. My second weekly surgery roves around the constituency and details can be found on this website.

In Kingston and Surbiton, I have waged a series of high profile campaigns, on issues ranging from scrapping council tax, to saving local post offices.

I have also published annual reports, which were delivered to every household, and have a regular column in the local newspaper.

In the past, I have been instrumental in a range of local victories, from reducing the speed limit on the A3 Kingston by-pass to 50 mph to saving an old people's day centre, Alfriston in Surbiton.

Recent victories include campaigning to keep Kingston's Magistrates' Courts open, expanding the maternity unit at Kingston Hospital and preventing the mothballing of Surbiton Hospital.

Campaigning on key local public services - such as getting more police on the beat and extra investment in our schools - is at last beginning to pay off.

Random Facts

• I published a paper "Making MPs Work for Our Money" (Centre for Reform, 2000) arguing for major reform of how Parliament scrutinises the budget. Download a free copy (pdf format, 782K)
• I support Notts County FC (having preferred the Magpies' strip to Nottingham Forest's aged 4), but have naturally also adopted Kingstonian FC, victors in two recent FA Umbro Trophy Cup Finals.
• I received awards from the Royal Humane Society and the Chief Constable of the British Transport Police in 1994, after rescuing a woman from the path of an oncoming train at Clapham Junction.
• My career in the Liberal Democrats began just 6 months after I graduated from university, when I answered an advert in the Guardian Newspaper for an Economic Researcher.