David Willetts

David Lindsay Willetts (born March 9, 1956) is the Conservative member of Parliament for Havant, in the United Kingdom.

Related Topics:
March 9 - 1956 - Conservative - Member of Parliament - Havant - United Kingdom

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He currently serves as Shadow Secretary of State for Trade & Industry in the Shadow Cabinet, under Michael Howard. Under Iain Duncan Smith he had been Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Related Topics:
Secretary of State for Trade & Industry - Shadow Cabinet - Michael Howard - Iain Duncan Smith - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

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Educated at Christ Church, Oxford, he was a whip, then junior minister (Paymaster General), under John Major but was forced to resign from the latter post by the Standards and Privileges Committee over an investigation into Neil Hamilton in 1996, when it found that he had "dissembled" in his evidence to the Committee over whether pressure was put onto an earlier investigation. Some critics such as Roy Hattersley were quick to judge his career as a finished one. However Willetts returned to the front bench a few years later under William Hague, initially serving in the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Eductionn Secretary. After the third Conservative defeat in May 2005, he was made Shadow Trade & Industry secretary - but, to the surprise of his detractors, emerged as a likely leadership candidate http://conservativehome.blogs.com/toryleadership/david_willetts/ after penning several articles about the party's future. That August, commentators speculated that he was gunning for the post Shadow Chancellor position and would cut a deal with either David Davis or David Cameron. On September 15th he confirmed his support for David Davis, the bookies' favourite.

Related Topics:
Christ Church, Oxford - Whip - John Major - Neil Hamilton - 1996 - David Davis - David Cameron

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Willetts' academic manner, prodigious output of think-tank documents and intellectual approach to politics have led to his being nicknamed 'Two Brains'. He is the author of several books on conservatism, including "Why Vote Conservative" (1996) and "Modern Conservatism" (1992).

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The constituency of Havant notably contains Leigh Park, one of Britain?s largest council estates. David Willetts was re-elected for Havant in 2005 with an increased majority of 6,508 votes.

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The register of members interests records that he is also chairman of the board of Universal Biosensors Ltd, and holds shares in its parent company, Sensor-Tech Limited.

Related Topics:
Universal Biosensors Ltd - Sensor-Tech Limited

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