David Cameron

Conservative MP Witney

Date of birth

9 October 1966

Profile

David Cameron's ascent within Conservative ranks has been rapid.

Elected in 2001, he quietly gained experience in his first two years in Parliament, primarily as a hard-working member of the home affairs select committee.

In June 2003, he was appointed as shadow minister in the Privy Council Office. When Howard came in as leader, he took on the role of deputy chairman of the party.

In a minor shadow reshuffle in March 2004, Cameron worked as a shadow local government minister. A second reshuffle took place in June, and he was again promoted - this time to head of party policy co-ordination.

Three months later, he reached the shadow cabinet while keeping the same job.

He is young - 34 when elected - highly educated with a first class degree from Oxford and has a background in high level Tory politics.

He has links to some of the most evocative names in recent Conservative history.

He worked on the prime minister's questions briefing team for both Margaret Thatcher and John Major and moved on to advise Norman Lamont at the Treasury and subsequently to Michael Howard as home secretary.

He helped to devise the scheme which has delivered thousands of CCTV cameras to towns across Britain.

His interests include criminal justice and the economy, as well as disability issues.

Contact

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Constituency office 01993 702302