Member for Ashford since 1997. Political career: Conservative Spokesperson, Education and Employment since 1998; Special Advisor, Prime Minister's Policy Unit 1992-94; Parliamentary Candidate, Brent East 1992. Special political interests: Economy, media, transport, education, employment. Profession/Trade: Journalist. Education: Reading School; Balliol College, Oxford, MA (Hons) First Class, Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Author of: Regulating the Media in the Digital Age (1997); Communities on the Countryside (1996); A Better BBC (1991). Hobbies: Cricket, football, opera, cinema.
b. 17 January 1956, Barry, South Glamorgan. Married with two children.

2005				2001
CON HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Conservative	26,651	51.6	4.1	22,739	47.4
Labour	13,353	25.8	-6.3	15,380	32.1
Lib Dem	8,308	16.1	1.0	7,236	15.1
Green	1,753	3.4	0.6	1,353	2.8
UKIP	1,620	3.1	0.6	1,229	2.6
Majority	13,298	25.7		7,359	15.4
Turnout	51,685	65.0	2.5	47,937	62.5