David’s work often involves keeping the government of the day ‘on its toes’ in the Chamber and behind the scenes. David is a conscientious constituency backbencher and it is often the case that people just don’t know how important such a role is. So here’s a range of things that should be highlighted:

  • David is a long standing member of the Chairman’s Panel. This means he chairs the committee stage of bills, delegated legislation and proceedings in Westminster Hall.
  • David annually hosts a ‘Centenarian’s Tea Party’, the largest such gathering of people over one hundred years of age anywhere in the world.
  • David is one of the UK’s most senior parliamentarians, both as an MP from 1983 and as an Executive Member of the backbench organisation, the 1922 Committee.
  • David chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group to the Holy See and as such is in regular contact with His Holiness Pope Benedict VXI, responsible for facilitating links between Parliament and the Vatican.
  • David is one of Parliament’s leading opponents of unnecessary animal experimentation and has fought a tireless battle as the Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Fund to Replace Animals in Medical Experiments.
  • David was last year made Chairman of the Small Shops Group, responsible for gathering support from MPs for legislation to protect local businesses from the effects of the economic downturn.
  • David is a vocal supporter of the Iranian resistance, speaking out forcefully against the tyranny of President Ahmadinejad and calling for truly free elections.
  • David has regularly campaigned to bring peace to the Middle East and security to Israel.
  • David has also campaigned with those who are anxious to reach a settlement whereby Cypriots can once again live together without the impediment of the ‘green line’.
  • David holds the rare distinction of having a Private Members’ Bill passed into law not once but twice - the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000, which commits the Government to eliminating fuel poverty and the Protection Against Cruel Tethering Act.
  • David is the proud owner of a Black Labrador, Michael, who he once described as a ‘vocal supporter of animal welfare, if only he were not so lazy’?