John was born in 1943. He was educated at Marlborough College, Cambridge University, foreign language schools in Spain and France and Harvard Business School.
He qualified as a barrister in 1965. He is married with two children.
John Maples' Experience
John has been a Member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee since November 2000. Since the last General Election, when he was elected MP for Stratford on Avon, he has served as Shadow Foreign Secretary, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence and Shadow Secretary of State for Health.
Between 1994 and 1995, he was Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party. John held the constituency of Lewisham West from 1983 to 1992. He was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury between 1987 and 1990. From 1990 to 1992 he was Treasury Minister (Economic Secretary), responsible for monetary policy, banks and building societies, Treasury interest in the financial system, oil taxation, Civil Service pay, environmental and international issues.
The lawyer and businessman was Chairman and Chief Executive of Saatchi & Saatchi between 1992 and 1996.
In November 2006, John was appointed as Deputy Chairman, with responsibility for Candidates.