David Laws

Biography:

David Laws was re-elected MP for Yeovil in May 2010 with a majority of 13,036.

He became chief secretary to the Treasury after the formation of the coalition government in May 2010, but resigned three weeks later and returned to the backbenches.

David Laws won the Observer Mace National Schools Debating Competition (1984) and joined the Liberal Democrats in 1984.

He won a scholarship to King’s College, Cambridge (Double First Class Honours, Economics).

He was Managing Director at Barclays Bank before joining the Liberal Democrats as the Parliamentary Party’s Economic Advisor in 1994 and was author of the 1994 and 1995 Liberal Democrat Alternative Budgets.

David’s policy interests include Education, Economics and Environment.

From 1997 to 1999 he was the party’s Director of Policy and Research, and in 2001 he succeeded Paddy Ashdown as MP for Yeovil.

David was appointed Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 2002. He was re-elected in 2005 with a much increased majority, and was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. In 2007 David was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.

Education:
St George’s College, Weybridge; Kings College, Cambridge

Experience:
Managing Director of Barclays Bank, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party’s Economic Adviser (1994-1997), and Director of Policy and Research (1997-1999)

Parliamentary experience:
2007- Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, 2005-07 Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the 2001-2005 Parliament

Interests:
Reading, running, athletics and rugby

Memberships:
Institute of Fiscal Studies

Constituency: Yeovil

Constituency Address: 5 Church Street
YEOVIL
BA20 1HB

Constituency Tel: 01935 423284

Date of Birth: 30 November 1965

Email: enquiries@yeovil-libdems.org.uk

Party: Liberal Democrats

Personal Website: www.yeovil-libdems.org.uk/david.asp