Richard Ottaway

Biography:

Richard Ottoway was re-elected MP for Croydon South in May 2010 with a majority of 15,818.

Richard Ottaway is a former Officer in the Royal Navy and the Royal Naval Reserve. He read Law at Bristol University. On qualifying as a solicitor in 1977, he specialised in maritime and commercial law with leading city firms.

He was first elected to Parliament as the Member for Nottingham North from 1983-87. After a period in industry he returned to Parliament in 1992 as the Member for Croydon South, and was re-elected in 1997, 2001 and 2005.

Between 1992 and 1997, he was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Michael Heseltine MP and from October 1995 was a Government Whip. He has served as a Front Bench spokesman for the Conservative Party as Shadow Minister for London and Local Government, Shadow Defence Minister, Shadow Paymaster General and Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment.

He is currently a member of the Intelligence and Security Committee and Vice Chairman of the 1922 Committee. Richard has also been a member of the Conservative Party Board since 2006.

He is a founder member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Malaysia and Vice Chairman of both the All Party Parliamentary Olympic Group and a member of All Party Parliamentary Group for Population, Development and Reproductive Health.

He is married to Nicky and enjoys jazz and sailing. He is a successful yachtsman and has won a number of amateur trophies.

Richard was first elected to Parliament as the Member for the formerly Labour seat of Nottingham North in 1983. He lost the seat in the 1987 General Election. After a period in industry, he was returned to Parliament in 1992 as the Member for Croydon South, and re-elected in 1997.

Between 1992 and 1997, he was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Michael Heseltine MP and from October 1995 was a Government Whip. He has served as a Front Bench spokesman for the Conservative Party: Shadow Minister for London and Local Government (1997-99); Shadow Defence Minister (1990-2000); Shadow Paymaster General (2000-2001). Up to October 2004, he was Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment.

Richard is Founder Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary UK-Malaysia Group

Constituency: Croydon South

Constituency Address: Croydon South, Conservative Association, 36 Brighton Road, Purley, Surrey CR8 2LG

Date of Birth: 24 May 1945

Party: Conservative

Personal Website: http://www.richardottaway.com/