Constituency : Kingston and Surbiton 1997-2015, 2017-
Ed took Kingston and Surbiton from the Tories by just 56 votes.
Ed ( short for Edward ) was born in Nottinghamshire. He was educated at Nottingham High School and Oxford. He worked as a researcher for Alan Beith while studying for a Masters in Economics. He worked as an economist for a management consultancy firm before his election. He was nearly selected for Twickenham initially. In 1995, he won a Royal Humane Society bravery award for rescuing a woman who had fallen on the tracks at Clapham Junction.
Ed became spokesman on treasury affairs and a whip. He increased his majority hugely in 2001. From 2002, he shadowed the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott. He moved through education and skills and trade and industry before becoming foreign affairs spokesman under Nick Clegg. He led an intemperate walk-out of the Commons after his suggestion of a new referendum on Europe was rejected. He voted against gambling controls and the smoking ban in pubs as "nanny state" policies.
When the coalition was formed, Ed took a post in Vince Cables's Business Department . As an "Orange Booker" on the right of the party, Ed was happy to work on labour market flexibility and reduction in red tape. In 2012, he was promoted to the Cabinet on the enforced resignation of Chris Huhne as Energy Secretary. He established the Green Growth Group in Europe to promote investment in renewables. In 2013 he was wrongly accused of advising people to wear jumpers at home on Newsnight. In 2014 he led moves towards being less dependent on Russia for energy. He was criticised by the Greens for his support for fracking.
Ed was defeated by the Tories in 2015 but won it back comfortably in 2017. He had been knighted in the meantime. He decided not to contest the leadership election that year but is thought to be a likely candidate when Vince Cable retires. He is currently Home Affairs spokesman.
He is now 53.
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