Family
I am married to Frances and have three children. Our three children attend local schools, and we are involved in the local community. I like spending time with my family back in Dorset and quite often this will be going for walks in our beautiful county with our labrador, or swimming in the sea. I like playing all sports including regular games for Poole Hockey Club and the occasional game of cricket for Hamworthy Cricket Club
Michael and Mid Dorset and North Poole
I was honoured to have been first elected as Member of Parliament for Mid Dorset and North Poole in May 2015, and re-elected in 2017 in again in 2019. I have lived in Mid Dorset and North Poole since moving to Dorset 20 years ago. I was actively involved in my local Conservative branch, before being asked to stand as the Deputy Chairman and then Chairman of the Conservative Association. I was campaign manager for the 2010 General Election and Chairman of the Dorset area. I have campaigned right across Dorset as well as England and Wales.
Michael and Parliament
Education, Employment, Infrastructure and Justice are my particular areas of interest. However, I have been involved in all areas of parliamentary life, asking questions of every department and scrutinising the Government, always with an eye on how any policy affects my constituents.
I have served in several Government departments in various junior roles, including the Department for International Development, and the Department for Exiting the EU. I have served as a Government whip in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for Education and the Cabinet Office. In summer 2022 I was appointed Vice Chamberlain to Her Majesty's Household, so I wrote a daily update of Parliament's proceedings for Her Majesty the Queen.
In the past I have served on the European Select Committee, and have been involved in a variety of All Party Parliamentary Groups including Youth Employment, Autism and Rural Services.
I am currently in the role of His Majesty's Solicitor General, having been appointed firstly by Liz Truss, and then subsequently re-appointed by Rishi Sunak.
For further details of these areas and more information about my work both in the constituency and in Parliament, please see my homepage and follow the relevant links.
