Peter Viggers

Conservative MP Gosport

Date of birth

13 March 1938

Political profile

A long serving Conservative MP, Peter Viggers was first elected to the Commons in 1974 but has not enjoyed spectacular success as a frontbencher.

He served as a PPS for seven years from 1979, and became a junior minister in Northern Ireland for three years.

But since being dropped in 1989 has remained on the backbenches.

He recently has had a very low Commons profile.

His main interest is in defence, on which he takes a strong line, and was a fierce critic in its heyday of CND and British peace protests.

He also takes a Thatcherite, monetarist view on economics and supports a tough stance on law and order, supporting the restoration of capital punishment.

He has latterly concentrated on campaigning to keep a local hospital open.

He called on his opponents at the 2001 election to stand down so he could be returned unopposed to campaign on the issue.

Contact

Commons office: 020 7219 5081

[e-mail]