Peter has been a Worcestershire MP since 1992. He lives in the county with his wife, Julia. They have two grown-up children, Rosie and Oliver.
He worked for four years for Peter, now Lord, Walker when he was MP for Worcester. He then went on to be head of private office to the late Sir Edward Heath in the early 1980s. After this he became a successful businessman in the communications industry. He has also been company secretary of his family's retail stationery firm. He was educated at Windsor Grammar School and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he read economics.
In 1997, Peter was appointed chairman of the Commons Agriculture Committee. In 2000, he joined the frontbench as an Opposition Whip. He served as Assistant Chief Whip from 2002 to 2005. Peter is now Chairman of the influential Business and Enterprise Committee.
Julia is Peter's secretary, working from his office in the county, making it easy to contact him with just a local phone call. She also organises his regular advice surgeries in Evesham and Droitwich Spa.
Peter's interests - politics and family apart - are photography, scuba diving, theatre and steam railways. He is a vice president of the Severn Valley Railway, Evesham Rowing Club, the Worcester Birmingham Canal Society and the Droitwich Canals Trust and is actively involved with many other local charities and organisations. He is patron of the county ME support group and chairman of the Worcester Cathedral Council.
He takes a close interest in many international issues and particularly in India.