Chris has been MP for Epsom and Ewell since the 2001 General Election and has been an active local MP, involved in several important campaigns including the battle to secure the future of Epsom Hospital. He and his family live in the constituency. He is Patron of Nork Music in the Park and the locally-based charity the Forces Children’s Trust, an Honorary Member of the Surrey Scout Council and Vice-President of the local Lest We Forget Association.
Between 2003 and 2009, Chris held a number of Shadow frontbench posts including Shadow Higher and Further Education Minister, Shadow Leader of the House, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Shadow Home Secretary. Following the formation of the coalition government in May 2010, he was appointed Minister of State at the Department for Work and Pensions. September 2012 Lord Chancellor – Secretary of State for Justice. In May 2015 he was appointed Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council. July 2016 he was appointed Secretary of State for Transport. In May 2020 Chris was appointed by the Prime Minister as a Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery for four years until May 2024.
Chris campaigned for Britain to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum. He set out the reasons why in a speech he gave during the campaign at Regent’s University, which you can read here.
Born in 1962, Chris grew up in Buckinghamshire. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe before going to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, to read history. After university, he joined the BBC’s News Training Scheme, and worked as a producer on BBC News and Channel Four’s programme Business Daily.
After a few years in television production, he decided to move to the business side of the media industry, and ran a number of small and medium-sized production businesses before moving to become European Marketing Director at a leading communications agency.
Chris has written several books, including a history of the Bridgwater Canal, Anglo-American relations, and life in England after the First World War. For relaxation, he enjoys travel, walking and watching football.
