About Me

Since May 2010 I have been Minister for Europe at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.  Before the General Election, I was the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs. In this capacity, I visited the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Qatar, and Iran, getting to know the different countries and leaders.

I have also held other positions, including Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the then Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Michael Howard QC MP, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, the Rt Hon William Hague MP, Opposition Spokesman for the Home Office, Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury, and Shadow Minister for Agriculture.

Before entering politics I worked for BP and for RTZ, before spending three years as Special Advisor to Douglas Hurd in the Home Office and Foreign Office.

I have a long standing passion for history, and have twice captained a champion team on University Challenge, first in 1979 and then in 2002 when the Sidney Sussex team became “champion of champions” in University Challenge Reunited.

My proudest political achievement is successfully promoting a Private Members Bill which became the Chiropractors Act in 1994. I believe that this piece of legislation has made a real difference to many people’s lives.

I am left with little time outside of Politics, having four sons. However, I do enjoy a good sing along and am a member of the Parliamentary Choral Society.