Nick Harvey

Liberal Democrat MP North Devon

Date of birth

3 August 1961

Political profile

In 1992, Nick Harvey soothed a Liberal wound when he retook former leader Jeremy Thorpe's old seat from the Conservatives.

A former PR and communications executive, he stood out among the limited number of liberal Democrats in the 1992 Parliament as the only Eurosceptic.

He incurred the wrath of Paddy Ashdown when he was the only member of the party to vote against the Maastricht Bill.

He continued to side with Conservative Eurosceptics until 1999, when he wrote of his conversion to support for the single currency.

He is a skilful organiser and a pragmatic politician - he was among a handful of Liberal Democrat MPs to oppose a ban on fox hunting.

He was also heavily instrumental in securing Emma Nicholson's defection from the Conservatives.

He was spoken of as a potential leader of the Liberal Democrats at Paddy Ashdown's retirement, but never launched a formal bid.

He has previously held posts as the party's health spokesman and culture spokesman.

Contact

Constituency office: 01271 328631

[e-mail]