Oliver Colvile first contested the Plymouth Sutton & Devonport seat in 2001, whittling down Labour's majority over three elections, winning in 2010 with a swing of nearly 7 per cent.
Oliver has lived at the Millfields (the old Royal Naval Hospital) in Plymouth for the last nine years. He understands the stresses and strains of being part of a Naval family as both his father and maternal grandfather served in the Royal Navy whilst his uncle commanded the Royal Marine garrison at Stonehouse.
He is single and is a member of the MCC and Surrey Cricket Club. He is also interested in rugby (a frequent visitor to Plymouth Albion) and horse racing. Oliver is a governor of St Andrew's primary School.
Experience
Prior to setting up his own communications business, he was on the Conservative Party's professional staff working for Ministers and high-profile back bench MPs, including the late Dame Angela Rumbold, where he masterminded and devised a number of community campaigns which saw the Conservative Party holding on to a number of highly marginal seats.
In 2010 Oliver was elected to the Select Committee on Northern Ireland and is vice-chair of the All-Party Group Armed Services with special responsibility for the Royal Marines. He is also Secretary of the All Party Political Group for the Built Environment and a member of the All Party Political Group for Zimbabwe.
Oliver is very interested in political reform in Africa and recently visited Zimbabwe. He was also part of a delegation to Malawi on electoral reform several years ago.