James Norwich Arbuthnot

Biography

James Arbuthnot was successfully re-elected as MP for North East Hampshire in May 2010 with a majority of 18,597 votes.

James was first elected to represent the people of North East Hampshire in 1997, and again in 2001 and 2005. He is also Chairman of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee.

Previously, James was Minister of State for Defence Procurement (1995-97) and then when the Conservatives went into opposition he became Opposition Chief Whip (1997-2001) during William Hague's time as Leader of the Opposition.

James has been an MP for 21 years, first entering Parliament in 1987 as MP for Wanstead & Woodford, following a career as a barrister. In 1988 he became Parliamentary Private Secretary to Archie Hamilton MP, Minister for the Armed Forces; he then became a Government Whip (1992-94), followed by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Social Security (1994-95). After his time as Opposition Chief Whip James became a member of the Intelligence and Security Committee (2001-05) and served as Shadow Secretary of State for Trade (2003-05). He has been Chairman of the Conservative Friends of Israel since 2005.

James was born in 1952 and was educated at Eton, where he was captain of the school, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he achieved an honours degree in law. A barrister, he was called to the Bar in 1975 and practised until 1992 in trusts, wills and tax law. He is married to Emma. They have four children: Alexander, Katherine, Eleanor and Alice and live in Mortimer with several dogs, a couple of Alpaca and an elderly pony. His interests include his family, music, computers, cooking and skiing and his ambition is to breed Irish Wolfhounds.

Constituency

North East Hampshire

Constituency Address

North East Hampshire , Conservative Association, 14a Butts Road, Alton, Hampshire , GU34 1ND

Constituency Tel

Date of Birth

4 August 1952.

Email

arbuthnotj@parliament.uk

Party

Conservative

Personal Website

www.jamesarbuthnot.com

Westminster Address

House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

Westminster Tel

020 7219 4649