Family
I am married to Frances and have three children. Our three children attend local schools in Poole, and we are involved in the local community. I like spending time with my family at home 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 the heart of Mid Dorset and North Poole since moving to Dorset over 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.
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.
Ministerial Roles
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 senior whip as Vice Chamberlain to Her Majesty's Household. This role meant I had to write a daily update of Parliament's proceedings for Her Majesty the Queen.
Solicitor General
Liz Truss appointed me in the role of His Majesty's Solicitor General, and I was re-appointed by Rishi Sunak hen he took office. I served as Solicitor General from September 2022 to December 2023. You can read about a typical day as Solicitor General here: A Day in the Life.
Minister for Countering Illegal Migration
In December 2023 the Prime Minister asked me to join the Cabinet in the role of Minister for Countering Illegal Migration.