Biog
David lives in Chorleywood with his wife, Rachel, and their three young sons, William (born September 2002), Robert (born October 2004) and Henry (born December 2008). All three boys were born at Watford General Hospital.
David and Rachel with one-day-old Henry
David was born in 1971 and was educated at Northgate High School, a state comprehensive in Ipswich, and read law at St Edmund Hall, Oxford University. After a year working as a Parliamentary researcher, he attended Chester College of Law before becoming a trainee solicitor. He qualified as a solicitor in 1997 and worked for a leading City firm until his election as MP for Hertfordshire South West on 5 May 2005.
David’s interests outside his political activities and family include cricket, football (he is a lifelong Ipswich Town supporter), reading and country walks.
David's Experience
David has been an active member of the Conservative Party since 1993 as a Council candidate, association officer and campaign organiser. In 2001, David was the Conservative Parliamentary candidate in Brent East, reducing the Labour majority by nearly 3,000. In 2003, David was selected as the Parliamentary candidate for Hertfordshire South West (defeating over 200 other applicants), following the announcement that Richard Page was to retire at the next General Election and was elected in 2005 with a majority of 8,473.
He made his maiden speech on 9 June 2005 during the Second Reading of the Consumer Credit Bill. In his period as an opposition backbencher, David highlighted a number of constituency concerns in Parliament, such crime and anti-social behaviour, erosion of the green belt, threats to local healthcare services and burdensome regulations. In 2006-7 he completed the Parliamentary Police Scheme, spending 22 days with Hertfordshire Constabulary.
In February 2006, David was appointed to the Treasury Select Committee which he then left in June 2007 when appointed to the Shadow Treasury team.
In the 2010 General Election, David was re-elected with a substantially increased majority of 14,920. Shortly afterwards, David was appointed as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, becoming the youngest Conservative minister in the Government. David's responsibilities in the Treasury includes most areas of tax policy and ministerial oversight of HM Revenue & Customs. In Parliament, he has led for the Government on two Finance Bills and the National Insurance Contributions Bill.
