Nick Harvey

Biography:

Nick Harvey was re-elected MP for North Devon in May 2010 with a majority of 5,821.

Nick Harvey’s first political affiliation was to the Liberal Party which he joined in 1974. As President-elect of Middlesex University Students’ Union, he took the outgoing Trotskyist executive to the High Court in May 1981 to block an illegal donation of union funds. Before entering Parliament Nick worked in communications and marketing for the City consultants, Dewe Rogerson.

He was appointed Liberal agent for Finchley in July 1983 and contested a Barnet council seat for the Liberals in May 1986. In December 1986 he was selected to contest the June 1987 General Election in Enfield Southgate, where he came second to Michael Portillo. In 1990 he was chosen as the Liberal Democrats’ candidate for North Devon, which he captured at the 1992 General Election with a majority of 794 votes.

After being elected Nick served as the party’s transport spokesman from 1992 to 1994, opposing rail privatisation and pressing for funds to be switched from road to public transport. From 1994-97 he was the party’s trade and industry spokesman, supporting competition in the gas industry and presenting new policy on small businesses, the regulation of utilities, executive pay and investment in infrastructure. He was spokesman on the English regions from 1997-99. Under Charles Kennedy’s leadership, Nick returned as front-bench spokesman on health following a notably successful stint at party HQ as Chairman of the Campaigns and Communications Committee. Following his re-election 2001, Nick became spokesman on Culture, Media and Sport. He stood down from this post in 2003 but following Sir Menzies Campbell’s election as party leader in March 2006 Nick was appointed defence spokesman. Nick has been a member of both the Home Affairs Select Committee and the Standards and Privileges committee, as well as serving as shadow defence secretary.

He is vice chairman of the All Party Group on Beer. He is married to Kate and they have a son and a daughter.

Education:
Sherborne House School, Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire; Queen’s College, Taunton; Middlesex University

Experience:
A career in communications and marketing working with City consultants Dewe Rogerson

Parliamentary experience:
2006 shadow defence secretary, 2001-03 Shadow DCMS secretary, 1999-2001 health spokesman, 1997-99 spokesman on the English Regions, 1994-97 trade & industry spokesman, 1992-94 transport spokesman

After the 2010 general election and the formation of the coalition he became armed forces minister.

Memberships:
Supporter of Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and Amnesty International

Constituency: North Devon

Constituency Address: he Castle Centre, Barnstaple, North Devon, EX31 1DR

Constituency Tel: 01271328631

Date of Birth: 3 August 1961

Email: mail@nickharveymp.com

Party: Liberal Democrats

Personal Website: www.nickharveymp.com