James Paice

Conservative MP Cambridgeshire South East

Date of birth

24 April 1949

Political profile

James Paice has sat on the frontbench since 1994 without ever achieving a high public profile.

First elected in 1987, he spent several years as a PPS to agriculture ministers before joining the Major government in 1994 as an employment minister.

He served as an agriculture spokesman throughout the 1997 Parliament and received particular praise for his contribution to the Opposition's response to the 2001 foot and mouth crisis.

Under Iain Duncan Smith, he became a home affairs spokesman. In November 2003, he was appointed shadow home affairs spokesman with specific responsibility for the police.

Michael Howard promoted him to shadow agriculture secretary in September 2004.

A farmer by profession, he is an instinctive rather than a dogmatic Conservative who was known as an unpartisan and mainstream minister.

In opposition, however, his evident dislike of the Labour party has sharpened his attitudes and he has moved further to the right.

He is a fervent opponent of the single currency and European federalism.

Contact

[e-mail]

Constituency office 01954 211444