Member for Chingford and Woodford Green since 1997; Member for Chingford 1992-97. Committees: Chair, Conservative Backbench Defence Committee. Political career: Former Leader of the Conservative Party; Shadow Secretary of State for Defence since 1999; Shadow Secretary of State, Social Security 1997-99; Member, London Area and Yorkshire Area Speaker's Panel 1985-99; Member, Foreign Affairs Forum since 1990; Parliamentary Candidate for Bradford West 1987. Special political interests: Small business, health, education, foreign policy. Profession/Trade: Company director/publisher; Director, Jane's Information Group; former Captain, Scots Guards. Education: HMS Conway; Universita di Perugia; RMAS. Languages spoken: Italian. Hobbies: Reading, painting, fishing.
b. 9 April 1954, Edinburgh. Married with four children.

2005				2001
CON HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Conservative	20,555	53.2	5.0	17,834	48.2
Labour	9,914	25.7	-7.7	12,347	33.4
Lib Dem	6,832	17.7	2.2	5,739	15.5
UK Independence Party	1,078	2.8	-	-	-
Independent	269	0.7	-	-	-
BNP	-	-	-	1,062	2.9
Majority	10,641	27.5		5,487	14.8
Turnout	38,648	63.0	4.5	36,982	58.5