In the past year, David has visited the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Qatar and Iran, getting to know the countries and leaders with which a Conservative government will have to do business.
His previous position as Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary was another role which demands an understanding of history and nuance. David has a long standing passion for history, and thinks that a knowledge of Tudor court politics is a pretty good guide to life in Whitehall and Westminster today!
David’s historical knowledge contributed to his double success in University Challenge. He has twice captained a champion team, first in 1979 and then in 2002 when the Sidney Sussex team became "champion of champions" in University Challenge Reunited.
David worked for BP and for RTZ before spending three years as Special Advisor to Douglas Hurd in the Home Office and Foreign Office.
A staunch campaigner on local issues in his Aylesbury constituency, David has recently opposed government plans to impose vast new development on Aylesbury, Stoke Mandeville and Wendover without providing adequate infrastructure or public services, fought plans to close both rural and urban sub-post offices and lobbied for Ministers to give a fair deal to local pensioners hit by the Equitable Life disaster and the collapse of private pension schemes.
POSITIONS HELD:
-
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the then Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Michael Howard QC MP, 1994 to 1997
-
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, Rt Hon William Hague MP, June 1997
-
Shadow Opposition Spokesman at the Home Office, June 1999
-
Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury, September 2001
-
Shadow Minister for Agriculture, May 2002
-
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, November 2003
-
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, July 2007 - May 2010
-
Minister for Europe, May 2010 -
PROUDEST POLITICAL ACHIEVEMENT:
Successfully promoting a Private Members Bill which became the Chiropractors Act 1994, making a real difference to thousands of people.
INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF POLITICS:
Family of four children leaves little time, but enjoys history and choral music (listening and singing).
FAMILY LIFE:
-
Married to Helen
-
Four sons