John was born in 1959. He was educated at Winchester College, and University College, London, where he graduated with a degree in economics. He is married to Ancilla with two children.
From 1982 to 1984, John was head of the Political Section in the Conservative Research Department. Between 1984 and 1985 he served as Special Adviser to three consecutive Secretaries of State for Trade and Industry.
In 1988, John was appointed Political Secretary to the Prime Minister, a post he held until Margaret Thatcher’s resignation in November 1990. He continued to work as Private Secretary to Baroness Thatcher until the General Election in 1992 and was awarded the OBE in her resignation honours list.
He was elected Member of Parliament for Colchester South & Maldon in April 1992. From 1993 to 1997, John was a member of the House of Commons Select Committee on Health. Between 1994 and 1996 he was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Education and Employment.
In May 1997, John was elected Member of Parliament for the new constituency of Maldon & Chelmsford East. In June that year he was appointed an Opposition Whip with Front Bench speaking responsibility covering the Treasury and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
He was appointed a Front Bench Treasury Spokesman in 1998 and the following year became Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition. In September 2001, he was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Trade & Industry, and in July 2002 was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport. In November 2003, he became Shadow Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food. From September 2004 to May 2005, he served as Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport.