ABOUT PETER LUFF

Peter has been working for Worcestershire since 1992 when he became Conservative MP for Worcester. After major boundary changes, he was elected MP for the new Mid Worcestershire seat in 1997 and was re-elected with an increased majority in 2001.

In the 1992-7 government he worked as PPS to three ministers – Tim Eggar (Energy), Lord Mackay (Lord Chancellor) and Ann Widdecombe (Prisons).

From 1997 to February 2000 he was Chairman of the influential Commons Agriculture Committee that scrutinises the work of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. He was then appointed to the Opposition Whips Office, first with responsibility, at different times, for Home Affairs, the Cabinet Office, the Foreign Office, Health and, currently, treasury issues. Under Iain Duncan-Smith, he was re-appointed to the whips' office, becoming senior whip.  He served as Assistant Chief Whip from 2002 to 2005.  Peter is now Chairman of the Trade and Industry Select Committee.

He lives in Worcestershire with his wife, Julia, and their two children.

Peter, who was born in 1955, first became interested in politics at grammar school. His interest developed at Cambridge University, where, he met Peter Walker who was then MP for Worcester and Droitwich Spa. Peter went on to work for Peter Walker as his research assistant and made up his mind to try to become an MP himself

After his three years with Peter Walker, he became company secretary of his family's small retail stationery business and learnt at first hand the problems of running a small company. He went on to work for Sir Edward Heath, the former Prime Minister and travelled with him to South Africa, China and extensively in Europe and the USA.

In 1982 he began a successful career in the communications industry and became Managing Director of his company. For two years he was seconded, as political adviser, to Lord Young of Graffham when he was Secretary of State for Trade and Industry where he worked on the campaign to boost awareness of the Single European Market.

In 1998, Peter was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Public Relations.

He is involved with many local organisations including the Droitwich Canals Trust, www.worcs.com/dct, the Severn Valley Railway http://www.svr.co.uk/, the Evesham Rowing Club http://www.evesham-rowing-club.co.uk/ and the county ME support group http://www.geocities.com/worcsmegroup/.

Peter is a member of the executive committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and he is Chair of Worcester Cathedral Council. Peter also works on a wide range of all-party groups at Westminster including Overseas Development, Theatre and the Middle Way Group seeking a new approach to hunting with dogs http://www.themiddlewaygroup.org.uk.

Outside politics – and apart from his family – Peter's main interests are theatre and steam railways. He is a keen photographer. And, of course, he is a member of Worcestershire County Cricket Club

Commenting on his political career, Peter Luff says,

"Politics is all about serving your constituents and it can be very hard work. But it is immensely rewarding and often great fun. There is the immense satisfaction of helping people solve their problems with government departments. There is the privilege of being at the heart of important events. And there are many opportunities to travel and to take part in unique experiences, such as the year I spent on the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, learning about life in the Royal Navy."