Mike was born in North London in 1957 and educated in Essex at Appleton and King Edmund Comprehensive Schools. He is married to Angela and has two daughters Adele and Abby. They live in the Old Town in Hemel.
Mike joined the Army as a boy soldier and served with the Grenadier Guards in Northern Ireland, Kenya and Germany; he also undertook ceremonial duties in London including Trooping of the Colour. On leaving the Army Mike served as a full time fireman in Essex for many years before going into the family business and later, into political journalism.
Mike’s Experience:
Mike won the Hemel Hempstead seat in 2005 and in 2010 increased his majority from 499 to 13,406, the largest Lab-Con swing in the country. He has previously served on the Health Select Committee and as executive member of the Conservative 1922 Committee. He was a Shadow Minister for Health from 2007 to 2010.
After the May 2010 election he was appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, a post he held until September 2012 whej he was appointed Minister of State in the Northern Ireland Office.
Campaigning in Hemel Hempstead:
Mike is a hard-hitting campaigner and has actively led campaigns on local issues such as Hemel Hempstead hospital, the plight of Dexion pensioners and fighting for compensation for residents and businesses affected by the Buncefield Oil Depot explosion in 2005.
Mike is active throughout the constituency and visits a large number of groups, clubs and organisations every year.
Mike has many interests outside of politics. Along with being a dedicated family man, he is passionate about sport, especially Rugby Union and Football.