Andrew Lansley

Conservative MP South Cambridgeshire

Date of birth

11 December 1956

Political profile

A senior civil servant in the 1980s, Andrew Lansley became an active Tory after a spell as private secretary to Norman Tebbit, and in 1990 was appointed head of the Conservative Research Department.

He was one of the architects of the Conservatives' surprise victory in 1992 and although he could not save the party's fortunes in 1997, he did secure himself the safe seat of South Cambridgeshire.

His skill in the Commons and his grasp of detail led to a central role in formulation of policy and he was rapidly promoted to join the shadow cabinet in 1999.

He was responsible for planning the Conservative election campaign of 2001.

Despite his own strong Euroscepticism, he supported Ken Clarke's campaign for the Tory leadership in 2001 and declared that the Tory party was institutionally racist and needed to move back to the centre ground.

He was on the back benchers during Iain Duncan Smith's leadership.

Under Michael Howard, he was appointed shadow health secretary, working under the shadow secretary of state for public services, Tim Yeo.

In the June 2004 Tory reshuffle, he entered the shadow cabinet as shadow education secretary as Mr Yeo's over-arching post was abolished.

Contact

[e-mail]

Constituency office 01954 212707