All About David

David Amess lives in Southend with his wife Julia and their five children. He has been a member of parliament since 1983 and has represented the constituency of Southend West since 1997. He has been extremely active as an MP, sponsoring bills such as the Pet Animals Bill in 1990, the Abortion (Amendment) Bill in 1996-7 and the Warm Homes Bill which passed in to law in December of 2000.

David's favourite charities include the Fairhaven and St. Luke’s Hospices and the Salvation Army. He enjoys reading, writing, sports and gardening.

 

Personal Details

David Amess
Southend West
Majority: 8,959

Electoral history
Contested Newham North West 1979 general election. Member for Basildon 1983-97, for Southend West since 1 May 1997 general election

Councils, public bodies
Councillor Redbridge Council 1982-86

Current Commons Career

Commons Select Committees
Chairmen’s Panel 2001-

Commons Backbench committees
Chair Conservative Party Backbench Committee for Health 1999-;
Vice-chair Conservative Health/Social Services Policy Committee 2001-

All-party groups (office-holding)

Chair/Co-Chair:
Maldives Group 2009-;
Small Shops Group 2008-;
Hepatology Group 2004-;
Holy See Group 2006-;
FRAME Group 2006-;
Solvent Abuse Group 2001-;
Fire Safety and Rescue Group 2001-;
Arthritis Group 2002-;
Scout Association Group 1997-

Vice-Chair:
Funerals and Bereavement Group 2005-;
Warm Homes Group 2005-;
Thrombosis Group 2006-;
Lions Clubs International Group 2006-;
Hungary Group 2001-;
Asthma Group 2003-

Other Officer Positions:
Secretary, Eye Health and Visual Impairment Group 2002-;
Treasurer, North Korea Group 2004-;
Treasurer, ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) Group 2001-;
Treasurer, Animal Welfare Group 2007-

Party posts
Hon. Secretary, Conservative Friends of Israel 1998-;
Member Executive 1922 Committee 2004-

Other posts
Hon. Secretary, Conservative Friends of Israel 1998-

 

Organisations:

Member Executive, 1922 Executive Committee, 2004-

President, 1912 Club, 1996-
Founder member, Wallenberg Appeal Foundation

Previous:

PPS to:
Parliamentary under secretaries, DHSS:
Edwina Currie 1987-88,
Lord Skelmersdale 1988,
to Michael Portillo:
as Minister of State:
Department of Transport 1988-90,
Department of Environment 1990-92,
as Chief Secretary to the Treasury 1992-94,
as Secretary of State:
for Employment 1994-95,
for Defence 1995-97
Sponsored:
Horses and Ponies Bill 1984-85,
Members of Parliament (Minimum Age) Bill 1984-85,
Horses, Ponies and Donkeys Bill 1987-88,
Abortion (Right of Conscience) (Amendment) Bill 1988-89,
British Nationality (Hon. Citizenship) Bill 1988-89,
Adoption (Amendment) Bill 1989-90,
Dogs Bill 1989-90,
Pet Animals (Amendment) Bill 1990-91,
Protection Against Cruel Tethering Act 1988,
Human Fertilisation (Choice) Bill 1992-93,
Voluntary Personal Security Cards Bill 1992-93,
Football Matches (Violent and Disorderly Conduct) Bill 1992-93,
Newly Qualified Drivers Bill 1993-94,
Coercion in Family Planning (Prohibition) Bill 1994-95,
Freezing of Human Embyros Bill 1995-96,
Abortion (Amendment) Bill 1996-97,
Reform of Quarantine Regulations Bill 1997-98,
Voluntary Personal Security Cards Bill 1997-98,
The Warm Homes Act 2000

 

Interests

Political interests
Health, education, transport, environment, pro-life movement

Countries of interest
USA, European Union, Middle East, Far East, Pacific Basin

Personal

Parents:
Son of late James Amess and of Maud Amess

Educated:
St. Bonaventure’s Grammar School
Bournemouth College of Technology (BSc economics 1974)

Marital Details:
Married 1983, Julia Arnold (1 son, 4 daughters)

Career:
Junior school teacher, 1970-71
Underwriter, Leslie Godwin Agency, 1974-76
Accountancy personnel, 1976-79
Senior consultant, Executemps company agency, 1979-81
Chair, Accountancy Solutions, 1987-90
Chair, Accountancy Group, 1990-96

Sports Clubs:
Kingswood Squash and Racketball

Publications:
The Basildon Experience, 1995

Recreations:
Socialising, reading, writing, sports, modern music, keeping animals, gardening.

Clubs:
Carlton, St. Stephen’s Constitutional

Freedom of City of:
Freeman, City of London

Favourite Charity Supported:
Fairhaven Hospices, Salvation Army