James Arbuthnot

Conservative MP Hampshire North East

Date of birth

4 August 1952

Political profile

James Arbuthnot is a Conservative loyalist, and a skilled political operator.

He recently returned to the frontbench when Michael Howard appointed him Shadow Secretary of State for Trade.

He was first elected in 1987 and, after supporting John Major's leadership bid, found rapid promotion, becoming a junior minister at the Department of Social Security and the Ministry of Defence.

In 1997, he managed William Hague's leadership campaign and was rewarded with the post of Opposition Chief Whip, a role which entailed public silence for four years.

He is on the right of the party, socially and economically.

But he took pains to make it clear that he had never been a supporter of the poll tax and abstained on votes implementing it.

He did not take sides in the Conservative leadership election in 2001, and chose to return to the backbenches.

He is a member of the House of Commons Intelligence and Security Committee.

Contact

020 7219 4649