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Evan Harris
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Shadow Science Minister
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Biography
Dr Evan Harris is the Liberal Democrats' Shadow Minister in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and Shadow Minister for Science.
Dr Evan Harris has been Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon since 1997, gaining the marginal seat from the Conservatives and holding it in 2001 and 2005.
Evan was educated at Blue Coat Secondary School, Liverpool. After a year at Harvard High School in North Hollywood, he went to Wadham College, Oxford in 1985 to study physiological sciences (BA), and then medicine at Oxford University Clinical School from where he qualified as a doctor in 1991.
Evan trained in emergency hospital medicine in Liverpool and at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospital. In 1994 he took up an honorary public health registrar post in Oxford. He was elected to represent doctors in the Region on the National Council of the British Medical Association from 1992-1994.
Having been party spokesman on the NHS and on higher education and women's Issues, following his re-election in 2001 he was appointed the Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Health. He stood down from the Lib Dem shadow cabinet in 2003 for personal reasons. He served as Science Spokesman (2005-07) and in 2007 was appointed Shadow Minister in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. Nick Clegg appointed Evan as Shadow Minister for Science in 2008. Evan serves on the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee (2003-) and the Joint Commons/Lords Select Committee on Human Rights (2005-).
Evan has a long-standing campaigning record in refugee rights and civil liberties issues, with a particular focus on free speech, anti-discrimination and the separation of religion and the state. He has a specialist interest in medical ethics, previously serving on Oxfordshire Health Authority's Research Ethics Committee, and since 1999 has been an elected member of the BMA's Medical Ethics Committee. He is Honorary President of the Liberal Democrat Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights (DELGA) and an honorary associate of the National Secular Society.
Evan's partner works in sexual health policy. His interests include squash, bridge and chess.
Education:
Blue Coat School Liverpool, Harvard School, California, Wadham College, Oxford
Experience:
Qualified as a doctor in 1991. Honorary registrar post with Oxford & Anglia Regional Health Authority 1994 and then Medical Officer to the Task Force on Junior Doctors Hours with Oxfordshire Health Authority's Public Health Department
Parliamentary experience:
2008- Shadow Minister for Science, 2007- Shadow Minister in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, 2005-07 Spokesperson for Science, 2005- Human Rights Select Committee, 2005- Science and Technology Select Committee, 2003- Shadow Health Secretary
Interests:
Football, bridge and chess
General election 2005 result
Seat: Oxford West & Abingdon
Current MP: Evan Harris
| Liberal Democrats | 46% | 24336 votes | |
| Labour | 17% | 8725 votes | |
| Conservatives | 32% | 16653 votes | |
| Others | 6% | 2886 votes |