Constituency : Carshalton 1997-2019
And so we come to our first MP who's currently serving. I remember seeing him on TV the day after the election, clearly stunned that he'd won and saying "Well I suppose I'd better give up my job now". 22 years later, he's the only Liberal Democrat MP who's continuously served since 1997.
Tom was born in Melton Mowbray but moved to France as a child. He was educated at Lycee International and Imperial College, London. He became a computer software consultant. He was a Hackney borough councillor between 1988 and 1990, then for Sutton from 1994 to 1998. He first stood for Carshalton in 1992 improving on John Grant's showing in 1987.
Tom started out as an Environment and Transport spokesman. Tom doubled his majority in 2001 and became Transport spokesman. In 2003 he became International Development spokesman. After 2005 when his majority was sharply reduced, he became Transport spokesman. He was regularly moved on to different briefs up to 2010.
Tom achieved his highest majority to date in 2010. In 2012 , he was appointed Deputy Leader of the House of Commons and Assistant Whip.
Tom survived the Liberal Democrat holocaust of 2015 and became foreign affairs spokesman and chief whip in the new Parliament. He survived another tight contest in 2017 and became spokesperson for Brexit as well as International Trade.
Tom is an atheist and supporter of the National Secular Society.
He is now 57.
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