I was born on 25th April 1959 at 9 Clennon Rise, Paignton. I went to schools in Paignton and Torquay before attending Torquay Boys’ Grammar School which I left after A Levels.
After a brief spell working in a timber yard, I spent seven years in the insurance industry. It was during this time that I became increasingly disillusioned with the Labour Government of the day, which I felt, overlooked the needs of peripheral areas of the UK like Torbay. I was also fearful of the unregulated capitalism espoused by Mrs Thatcher, the new leader of the Conservative Party. Feeling that I had more in common with John Pardoe and David Penhaligon in the area I joined the Liberal Party in 1979 and in 1985 was elected Vice President of the National League of Young Liberals.
In 1984 I stood sucessfully to Torbay Council representing the old Blatchcombe ward.
In 1986 I stood down to take up a post with the Association of Liberal Councilors in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. I worked for the Association (later Association of Liberal Democrat Councilors ALDC) until 1989 when I then moved to the Liberal Democrats Whips Office.
Between 1992 and 1993 I worked in the office of Paddy Ashdown where I was primarily responsible for organising Paddy’s ‘Beyond Westminster’ Tour, in which Paddy was the first leader of a national party to leave Westminster to live and work in various different communities across Britain.
On completion of the tour I worked as the Policy Officer of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (1993-94) and then the Southern Association of Voluntary Action Groups for Europe, advising voluntary organisations and charities on how to gain access to funds from Europe for training and employment projects.
I contested the Torbay constituency in the 1992 General Election, reducing the Conservative majority to only 5,787. I was the candidate for the Devon and East Plymouth constituency in the 1994 European Election. On May the 1st 1997 I was elected Member of Parliament for Torbay in the closest of contests. With a majority of just 12 over the Conservatives, I joined the Liberal Democrat team in Parliament, speaking on Housing, and in my first Parliament, served as a Regional Whip for the South West.
In the 2001 General Election my majority increased to 6,708, and I became the Liberal Democrat spokesmen for Tourism. I stood again, successfully, in the 2005 and 2010 General Elections. Amongst other things I have always campaigned strongly for issues surrounding Diabetes and Animal Welfare.
I split my week between Westminster and my home in Paignton which I share with my wife Alison.
