WATCH LIB DEMS...
Paul Keetch
|
MP for HerefordPaul Keetch was born and bred in Hereford, the constituency he has represented at Westminster since 1997. After leaving school Paul, the youngest of five childre (...) |
Biography
Paul Keetch was born and bred in Hereford, the constituency he has represented at Westminster since 1997.
After leaving school Paul, the youngest of five children in a long-established local family in Hereford, went into banking but later switched to the water hygiene business, eventually establishing his own company.
He joined the Liberals in 1975 and became Chair of Hereford Young Liberals and the West Midlands Young Liberals. At the age of 21 he won a City Council election in Hereford (Holmer ward) to become the youngest person ever elected to the Council. In the General Election of 1983 Paul acted as the Agent for the Liberal/SDP Alliance candidate in Hereford.
When he moved to London for business reasons, Paul began working for Simon Hughes MP and helped Simon's campaigns in Southwark and Bermondsey in the 1987 and 1992 General Elections.
Paul was chosen to be the Liberal Democrat candidate for Hereford in October 1993, and moved back to Hereford with his wife, Claire. On entering parliament in May 1997 Paul was appointed to the Liberal Democrat Health team, but in September 1997 switched to being spokesperson for Employment and Training. In Charles Kennedy's first reshuffle as party leader in October 1999, Paul became spokesman for Defence. In July 2005 Paul was appointed to the foreign Affairs Select Committee. Nick Clegg appointed Paul as a Whip in 2008.
Paul is a member of many parliamentary All-Party Groups, and founded the All Party Cider Group, creating a platform for the National Association of Cidermakers at Westminster which they had formerly lacked. Paul also founded the British-Lithuania Group, as he is interested in and has considerable knowledge of politics in many states of Eastern Europe. Since July 2005 Paul has been Chair of the Liberal International British Group.
Paul lives in Hereford with his wife, Claire, and their son, William. Paul likes watching cricket and football, especially with William. Paul particularly enjoys swimming and cycling, and, when he has time to relax, likes nothing better than entertaining family and friends.
Education:
Boys' High School, Hereford; Hereford Sixth Form College.
Experience:
Banking Industry and the Water Hygiene industry, eventually establishing his own company.
Council experience:
Elected to Hereford City Council in 1983.
Parliamentary experience:
2008- Whip, Foreign Affairs Select Committee 2005-, Shadow Defence Secretary 2002-05, Spokesman for Defence 1999-2002, Spokesman for Employment and Training 1997-99.
Interests:
Swimming, entertaining at home, travelling, enjoying a good game of cricket with a glass of cider in the summer sun.
Memberships:
National Liberal Club, Herefordshire County Cricket, Surrey County Cricket Club, Herefordshire Farmers', London Savage Club.
General election 2005 result
Seat: Hereford
Current MP: Paul Keetch
| Liberal Democrats | 43% | 20285 votes | |
| Labour | 10% | 4800 votes | |
| Conservatives | 41% | 19323 votes | |
| Others | 4% | 2082 votes |