A quick profile of Mike Freer MP

Name:

Date of birth: 29/5/60

Constituency: Finchley and Golders Green

Areas of interest and expertise: 

• Reducing cost of Central Government
• Local Government Reform.

Distinguishing career milestones: (including education, jobs, positions and offices held):

• Reform of Barnet Council (dubbed EasyCouncil)
• Local Government funding initiatives (Barnet Financing Plan) that informed policy on New Homes Bonus & Business Rate retention.

Greatest source of political pride: (could be swing, legislation passed, involvement in a campaign): Securing criminalisation of squatting for residential properties in conjunction with Mike Weatherley MP.

Political hero and why:

Margaret Thatcher – her ability to grasp what needed to be done, stick to the course and, importantly, connect directly to the public.

Inspiring political quote:

“I will not change just to court popularity” - Thatcher

What advice would you give to a young politician?:

Get your hands dirty with a job in business/commerce and put some money behind you.

10 QUICK Q&A

• Do you support gay marriage? Yes
• At how many weeks of pregnancy should abortion become illegal? As now
• Should we legalise assisted dying? No
• At some point drugs like cannabis should become legal? No
• In, out or reform of Europe? Reform or out
• Favourite US president? Reagan
• Who is likeliest to be next Tory PM - Boris or one of the 2010 intake?neither
• English votes for English laws? No, a UK Parliament for the UK
• Will America, China or India be the most powerful nation by 2050? China
• You have to increase taxes on high value properties, air travel or tobacco? Which one? Tobacco

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Read David Burrowes' answers to the Quick Questionnaire.

A quick profile of David Burrowes MP

ConservativeHome is inviting Tory MPs to complete brief profile questionnaires. We are grateful to David Burrowes for kicking off the series. We'll publish Tim Loughton's responses tomorrow.

Name: David Burrowes MP.

Date of birth: 12th June 1969.

Constituency: Enfield Southgate.

Areas of interest and expertise:

• Criminal justice
• Drugs and Alcohol policy
• Family policy
• Umbilical cord blood
• Cyprus, Israel and Burma.

Distinguishing career milestones: (including education, jobs, positions and offices held):

• Exeter Law LLB;
• Criminal Defence Solicitor;
• London Borough of Enfield Councillor -Cabinet Member for Voluntary and Community Development;
• Deputy Chair of Social Justice Policy Group review of addictions;
• Shadow Justice Minister;
• Parliamentary Private Secretary to Francis Maude, Oliver Letwin and now Owen Paterson.

Greatest source of political pride: (could be swing, legislation passed, involvement in a campaign): Securing freedom for my constituent Gary McKinnon from extradition to US.

Political hero and why:

William Wilberforce for his Christian convictions, persistence, principles and social reform.

Inspiring political quote:

GK Chesterton - “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.”

What advice would you give to a young politician?:

Make sure politics is not your life and you are rooted in your local community.

10 QUICK Q&A

• Do you support gay marriage? No
• At how many weeks of pregnancy should abortion become illegal? Am in principle pro life so would support any reduction in time limits which reduces number of abortions
• Should we legalise assisted dying? No
• At some point drugs like cannabis should become legal? No
• In, out or reform of Europe? Reform or out
• Favourite US president? Reagan
• Who is likeliest to be next Tory PM - Boris or one of the 2010 intake? Neither!
• English votes for English laws? Not yet
• Will America, China or India be the most powerful nation by 2050? China
• You have to increase taxes on high value properties, air travel or tobacco? Which one? Tobacco.