Constituency : Newbury 1993-2005
The 1992-97 Parliament was generally a good one for the Liberal Democrats as John Major's government staggered from one crisis to the next and the number of Liberal Democrat MPs steadily rose through by-election victories and defections.
David was the first by-election victor, defeating self-proclaimed "Hammer of the Liberals" Julian Davidson , whose campaign was sunk by a campaign appearance by Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont, by a record majority. The Liberals had been strong challengers in the seat in the mid-seventies but had fallen away since then. David first contested the seat in 1987 and improved his position in 1992.
David was educated at Eton and Oxford. He was part of the victorious boat race team in 1974. He worked in the finance and computing departments at Shell, British Gas and Esso. He was a descendant of the former Welsh MP Stuart Rendel. He contested Fulham in 1979 and 1983, increasing the Liberal vote in the latter but remaining in third place.He moved to Newbury in 1986 when his wife became a GP there and became a district councillor. He soon developed a reputation for hard work and dogged campaigning.
David attracted controversy by supporting the Newbury by-pass and the hunting ban. He was spokesman on local government and social security under Paddy Ashdown.
David held the seat comfortably in 1997 and challenged for the leadership in 1999 but came fifth, his slightly diffident manner not helping his cause.
In 2001, David was targeted by pro-hunt supporters and in a generally good election for the party his majority was more than halved. He became spokesman on higher education.
David was defeated in 2005 and fell further behind in 2010. He opposed the coalition with the Tories. In 2015 he tried to succeed David Heath at Somerton and Frome but was well beaten as the Liberal Democrat vote collapsed.
He died from cancer in 2016 aged 67.
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