Liberal Democrat MP Yeovil

Date of birth

30 November 1965

Political profile

David Laws was a well known and influential figure in Westminster even before he was selected to succeed former Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown in Yeovil.

As director of policy and research for the Lib Dems, he had a significant role in developing the party's 1997 manifesto and economic strategy.

His qualifications for that job were formidable - he gained a double first in economics from Cambridge and backed it up with practical experience in a City career, culminating in a stint as managing director of Barclays Bank.

His success enabled him to retire from the City in his early thirties and devote his energies to Lib Dem politics.

Mr Laws was the first of the 2001 entrants to the Commons to make a maiden speech and in November 2001 he was appointed a junior party defence spokesman.

He joined the Lib Dem front bench team as their Chief Secretary to the Treasury spokesman, in October 2002.

Contact

Constituency office 01935 423284