Alan Duncan

Conservative MP Rutland and Melton

Date of birth

31 March 1957

Political profile

One of the most ideologically driven Conservatives in Parliament, Alan Duncan is a right-wing libertarian who supports the stripping down of the role of the state to its bare essentials and the minimisation of taxes.

He also believes in the repeal of drugs law, though the section of his book Saturn's Children detailing this was excised in its paperback edition after he joined the Tory frontbench as a health spokesman in 1998.

His later role as a trade and industry spokesman was aided by his experience as a successful and wealthy oil trader.

His rapid advancement in the party was helped by his close personal and political friendship with William Hague, who appointed him as vice-chairman of the party in 1997.

A staunch Eurosceptic by conviction, he supported Michael Portillo's bid for the Conservative leadership after the 2001 election defeat.

He became the first Tory MP to "come out" as a homosexual in July 2002.

His profile was boosted too when he tried as his hand as a youth worker on a television series.

Mr Duncan, who lent his London home to John Major's leadership campaign in 1990, was a junior foreign affairs spokesman under Iain Duncan Smith's leadership.

When Michael Howard took over, Mr Duncan became shadow secretary of state for constitutional affairs, opposing plans to abolish the post of lord chancellor and create a Supreme Court.

In September 2004 he became the shadow international development secretary.

Contact

[e-mail]

House of Commons office: 020 7219 5204

Constituency office 01664 566444