Minister of state, Department for Work and Pensions
Conservative, Epsom and Ewell
Date of birth: 1 April 1962
Place of birth: London
Marital status: Married
Children: 1 son, 1 daughter
Hobbies: Golf, cricket
Education: Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe; Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge (BA (Hons) History)
Areas of strong political interest: transport, health (NHS); environment
Profile
Chris Grayling was actively involved in local politics prior to winning the parliamentary seat of Epsom and Ewell in the 2001 general election. He was a council member of Bow Group, the vice-chairman of Wimbledon Association CPC and was elected as councillor on Merton Council in 1997.
Outside of politics, Grayling had a successful media career, working as a television news journalist and later a producer, before becoming the director of a large communications agency.
In 1997, Grayling stood unsuccessfully for the seat of Warrington South, defying John Major to denounce the European single currency during his campaign.
In his 2001 election campaign, Grayling focused on a number of issues, including transport links in his constituency, restrictions on travellers and tougher restrictions on green belt development. Despite his success, he was accused by the Daily Mirror during the campaign of having a "shabby business record". The paper claimed that Grayling was the MD of a production company, which was forced into receivership with debts of over £32,000 and assets of just £600.
Mr Grayling is considered to be in the centre of the parliamentary Conservative party.
• February 2006 - Won the Campaigning Politician award at the Hansard political awards
• 16 January 2006 - Discharged from Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons
• 8 December 2005 - Appointed shadow Transport Secretary in the reshuffle that followed the leadership contest
• July 2005 - Appointed to the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons
• July 2005 - Called for a Commons standards and privileges committee investigation into Stephen Byers on his appearance at Commons transport committee on Railtrack in November 2001
• May 2005 – Appointed shadow leader of the House
• May 2005 – Re-elected as MP for Epsom and Ewell with a majority of 16,447
• February 2005 – Appointed Shadow Health Minister
• November 2003 - Appointed Conservative health and education spokesperson
• November 2002 - Appointed shadow health minister
• July 2002 - Appointed opposition whip
• July 2001- Voted for Michael Portillo in the first ballot of the Conservative leadership contest
• June 2001 – Elected as MP for Epsom and Ewell with a majority of 10,080
Current activities
All-party group memberships: All-Party Parliamentary Group on Endangered Species; All-Party Parliamentary Botswana Group; All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Friends of Islam; Associate Parliamentary Road Passenger Transport Group; secretary, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Illegal Camping and Traveller Management; vice-chairman, All-Party Parliamentary Rail Group
Memberships of public and political bodies: House of Commons Commission
Political background
Past government and shadow posts: Shadow transport secretary 8 December 2005 to present
Conservative shadow leader of the House, 10 May 2005 - 8 December 2005
Conservative spokesperson on health, February 2005 - 10 May 2005
Conservative health and education spokesperson (Higher and Further Education, the Food Standards Agency, Obesity and Complementary Medicine), November 2003 - February 2005
Conservative spokesperson on health, November 2002 - November 2003
Past select committee memberships: Transport Committee, July 2002 - December 2002; Select Committee on Transport, Local Government and the Regions, July 2001 - July 2002; Transport Sub-Committee (of the Select Committee on Transport, Local Government and the Regions); Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons, July 2005 - 16 January 2006
Past memberships of public and political bodies: Council member, Bow Group, 1991-93; vice-chairman, Wimbledon Associatio; chairman, CPC; general purposes committee member, Greater London Area CPC; GLA Council CPC liaison officer, London South West Ward Chair, 1990-93
Electoral history: Contested Warrington South 1997
Bills sponsored: Road Safety And Speed Bill (2001-2002)
Publications: The Bridgewater Heritage, 1983; A Land Fit for Heroes, 1985; Just Another Star?, 1987; Insight Guide to the Waterways of Europe, 1989
Employment
Past employment: Trainee, BBC News 1985-86; producer, BBC News 1986-88; programme editor, Business Daily (Channel 4) 1988-91; business development manager, BBC Select 1991-93; director, Charterhouse Productions, 1993; director, Workhouse Ltd 1993-95; SSVC Group 1995-97; Burson Marsteller 1997-2001
Constituency details
2005 results: Grayling, Chris (Conservative) - 27,146 (54.4%); Lees, Jonathan (Liberal Democrat) - 10,699 (21.4%); Mansell, Charles (Labour) - 10,265 (20.6%); Kefford, Peter (UK Independence Party) - 1,769 (3.5%); Majority - 16,447 Conservative
The constituency of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey is located on the south-west edge of London and, as such, is home to numerous London-bound commuters. A high 15% of people travel to work by train - the 34th highest in the UK. Unsurprisingly, this is an overwhelmingly middle-class seat, with managerial and technical workers accounting for 48% of the workforce, and house prices among the highest in the UK. Owner occupancy is over 82.6% (21st highest in the UK) and 42% of houses possess two or more cars. On the edge of the North Downs, this is a green seat that, each June, plays host to the Derby at its Epsom racecourse. A number of international firms, including engineers WS Atkins and Bacon and Woodrow have made their homes here. Indeed, in July 2001 Toyota opened its UK HQ in the constituency.
Postcode prefixes in constituency: KT19, KT18, KT17, KT4, KT22, KT21, SM7, KT20, SM3, SM2,
Electoral history
2001 constituency electoral profile: C Grayling (Con) 22,430 (48.1%); C Mansell (Lab) 12,350 (26.5%); J Vincent (LD) 10,316 (22.1%)
2001 turnout: 62.81%
2001 swing: 0.17% Lab to Con
Majority election result 2001: 10,080 Conservative
1997 constituency electoral profile: Archie Hamilton (Con) - 24,717 (45.6%); P Woodford (Lab) - 13,192 (24.3%); J Vincent (LD) - 12,380 (22.8%)
Majority election result 2005: 16447, Conservative
Majority election result 1997: 11,525, Conservative
Majority election result 1992: 22,060, Conservative (Notional)
2005 swing: 3.5% from Liberal Democrat to Conservative
Contact details
Office Address: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Office telephone: 0207 219 8194
Office fax: 0207 219 1763
Email: graylingc@parliament.uk
Website: www.chrisgrayling.net
Constituency address: 212 Barnett Wood Lane, Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 2DB
Constituency telephone: 01372 271 036
Constituency fax: 01372 270 906
