Conservative MP Tatton

Date of birth

23 May 1971

Political profile

George Osborne is one of the younger Conservative MPs, being just 30 when elected.

He has an impressive political pedigree, having worked for several years as William Hague's political secretary and speech writer.

Prior to the 1997 election, he took on the challenging task of special adviser to agriculture secretary Douglas Hogg at the height of the BSE crisis.

That party work saw him rewarded with the plum seat of Tatton, an ultra safe bet for the Tories after the departure of Independent MP Martin Bell.

As a senior figure in Conservative Central Office and secretary to the shadow cabinet, he had an important role in policy and presentation before the last election.

After a brief stint as an Opposition Whip, he joined the shadow economic affairs team in November 2003.

And in Michael Howard's September 2004 reshuffle he was promoted again - he is now shadow chief secretary to the Treasury.

Mr Osborne is the nephew of the late John Aspinall and is heir to the Osborne and Little wallpaper fortune.

He shares his name with a character from Vanity Fair who meets his end on the battlefield of Waterloo.

The latter-day Mr Osborne has said of him that "he does die in a good cause, defying a mad man trying to build a single European state".

Contact

osborneg@parliament.uk

Constituency office 01565 632181