Members Of Parliament in Epsom - Epsom Guardian

MPs: Chris Grayling MP; Keith Taylor MEP;

Epsom and Ewell (House of Commons)

Rt Hon. Chris Grayling MP (Conservative)

Surgery: Stoneleigh Library
Tattenham Corner Library
The Conservative Club in Epsom
The Conservative Association office in Ashtead.

Surgery Tel: 01372 271036

MP Since - 2001 Majority - 16,134 Born - 01/04/1962 (London), Married (Sue), 2 children.
Education - Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University.
Previous Occupation - Television and Video Producer - BBC TV News Producer, Editor Channel 4 Business Daily. Company Executive - runs a corporate communications business.

Personal Overview - Media aware first-term MP who has succeeded former Minister and 1922 Committee Chairman, Sir Archie Hamilton in a true-blue Surrey commuter constituency. Has put his media skills to party use, producing two videos to promote membership recruitment. As a former executive member of the Bow Group his political inclinations have not always been in sympathy with the general principles of the parliamentary party, or its leadership. Less of a handicap following the election of David Cameron to the party's leadership, he is a welcome addition to a party in need of improving its message delivery, and is a fresh face to rejuvenate its image. In his transport portfolio has had to grapple with the thorny issue of party policy towards the railway industry, admitting in July 2006 that the division of track and train operators in the 1996 privitisation had been a mistake which had increased costs and made it less clear (to the public) who was in charge. Was promoted in the January 2009 pre election reshuffle to become Shadow Home Secretary. Attracted some controversy when he suggested that bed and breakfast owners should be allowed to turn away gay couples. Was also one of the casualties of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition, being shifted downwards from his shadow brief at the Home Office to a ministerial role at the Department for Work and Pensions. He was however promoted into the Cabinet in the 2012 reshuffle as Justice Secretary.

Political History - Councillor, London Borough of Merton (1998-2002), Parliamentary Candidate, Warrington South (1997), Member for Epsom & Ewell (2001-). Vice Chairman of the Conservative Transport/Local Government/Planning Committee (2001-03). Member of the Transport, Local Government & the Regions Select Committee, Transport & Urban Affairs Sub-Committees (2001-02), Transport Select Committee (2002). Opposition Whip (2002), Member of the Modernisation Select Committee (2005-06). Opposition Front Bench spokesman for Health (2002-03), for Public Services, Health & Education (2003-04). Shadow Minister for Higher Education (2004-5), Shadow Leader of the House of Commons (2005). Member, Modernisation of the House of Commons Select Committee (2005-6), Shadow Secretary of State for Transport (2005-07). Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (2007-09). Shadow Home Secretary (2009-10). Minister of State for Employment, Department for Work and Pensions (2010-12). Lord Chancellor & Secretary of State for Justice (2012-).

Characteristics - Author. Sporting interests focus on cricket, tennis and golf.

Business Tel: 020 7219 8194

Email: graylingc@parliament.uk

Interests: Small Business,Media

Commitee membership

• All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cardiac Risk in the Young (Member)
• Road Passenger Transport Group (Associate Group) (Member)

South East (European Parliament)

Mr Keith Taylor MEP (Green)

MEP Since - 2010 Born - 01/08/1953. Partner (Lizzie).
Education - N/a.
Previous Occupation - Worked in sales (1972-1980). Self-employed/Co-Director of a local business (1980-1999). Regional Liaison Officer for Caroline Lucas MEP (2002-2007).

Personal Overview - Replaced the outgoing Caroline Lucas here in June 2010 after she was successful in her bid to become the Green party's first MP at Westminster. He is an experienced Councillor, having led the Green Group in Brighton for a number of years. He has also shown an interest in foreign affairs issues, as a Councillor was active in campaigning to secure the release of Brighton resident Omar Degayes from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. He has also been involved in High Court action supporting families with Autistic children. Within the party, he has been a spokesperson on planning and regeneration as well as a Principal Speaker at the time when the party had not adopted a single leader. He has also been involved in policy development with the party election manifesto. Locally, he he is likely to have gained a good knowledge of his electoral region through his work for his predecessor.

Political History - Councillor, Brighton and Hove City Council (1999-2010). Green Group Leader (2001-08). Chair, Association of Green Councillors (2001-2002). Principal Speaker for the Green Party of England & Wales (2004-2006). Regeneration Spokesperson (2008-10). MEP South East Region (2010-). Member of the Afghanistan Delegation (2010-), Substitute member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (2010-) and the Iran Delegation (2010-). Member of the International Trade Committee (2010-) and the Transport and Tourism Committee (2010-). Substitute member of the Petitions Committee (2010-).

Other Information - Has been a Vice President of the UK’s Local Government Association Group in the European Parliament. Former representative for Brighton and Hove on the UN Peace Messenger City project and a City representative to the Local Government Association.

Intergroups - Member of the LGBT Rights Group.

Business Tel: +32 (0)2 28 45153

Email: keith.taylor@europarl.europa.eu

Mr Keith Taylor MEP (Green) on Twitter

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Interests: Environment,Economic Regeneration,Womans Issues,Regional Policy,Conservation

Commitee membership

• Petitions (Substitute)
• Transport & Tourism (Member)
• International Trade (Member)

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