Liam was born and raised in East Kilbride, Scotland. He attended the local comprehensive school, St. Bride’s High School, and then went on to study medicine at the University of Glasgow.
He became president of the University’s Conservative and Unionist Association, and in his spare time took a keen interest in debating, a discipline in which he won national and international prizes and which proved invaluable in preparing him for a life in politics.
As well as his career in the NHS, Liam worked as a Civilian Army Medical Officer, which enabled him to see army life at first-hand. His time there has instilled in him a belief that the Government has a responsibility to look after the Armed Forces and their families.
Liam is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners, and worked as a GP in Buckinghamshire and Somerset before becoming a Conservative MP in 1992.
POSITIONS HELD:
-
MP for Woodspring 1992 –
-
Parliamentary Private Secretary to Michael Howard, 1993 – 1994
-
Assistant Government Whip, July 1994 – 1995
-
Senior Government Whip, 1995 – 1996
-
Minister at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 1996 - 1997
-
Front Bench Spokesman on Constitutional Affairs, June 1997 – May 1999
-
Shadow Secretary of State for Health, May 1999 - Nov 2003
-
Party Chairman, Nov 2003 – May 2005
-
Shadow Foreign Secretary, May 2005 - Dec 2005
-
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, Dec 2005 - May 2010
-
Secretary of State for Defence, May 2010 - Oct 2011
INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF POLITICS:
FAMILY LIFE: