David Willetts

Conservative MP Havant

Date of birth

9 March 1956

Political profile

David Willetts is regularly celebrated as the most intelligent MP in the Conservative party, with the admiring nickname "Two Brains".

He has very strong credentials as a policy expert, a fact recognised by Michael Howard when he appointed him Head of Policy Co-Ordination for the Party, as well as Shadow Secretary of State for Work & Pensions.

Willetts spent his early career as a Treasury civil servant, before joining the Prime Minister's Policy Unit under Margaret Thatcher.

He subsequently became director of research for a right wing think tank, the Centre for Policy Studies.

He is also a prolific author on Conservative philosophy.

After his election in 1992, he enjoyed a rapid rise through the ranks, but came unstuck when the Standards and Privileges Committee criticised his role as a whip in the proceedings of an investigation into Neil Hamilton.

He later returned to the frontbench until he entered William Hague's shadow Cabinet as Shadow Education and Employment Secretary.

Contact

020 7219 4570