I am the parliamentary candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan. 

I live in the constituency with my wife, Emma, who runs her own small business; and with my son, Henri, who attends the local Welsh school.  My father was a welder in British Steel and my mother was a shop keeper. 

I first became aware of politics when I was growing up in a deprived community near Swansea.  I saw that a close family member, who ran her own small grocery shop worked all hours possible for almost 50 years ended up worse off than many of our neighbours who hadn’t bothered working, in spite of being able to do so.  I felt that it was wrong that people who were able to work could live off the state, yet others worked every hour for little reward.  Naturally, I want to see support for those who genuinely can't work. 

In my time as an Assembly Member, I have tried to stand up for people who have not received fair play from public (and private) bodies.  I have developed a particular interest in Special Educational Needs (SEN).  Too many parents are forced to fight for what is rightly theirs.  Statementing of children is a tortuous process and pupils who should be able to contribute to society later in life are being failed. 

One of my proudest moments was to force a change of Assembly Policy after championing a local Special Needs case by exposing that WAG guidance was against the law. 

Before being elected I worked for Lloyds Bank (latterly Lloyds TSB) for more than 10 years – mostly in business development, with my last role in financial services compliance. 

My other great interest is economic affairs and I completed an MBA as a mature student, specialising in inward investment policy.  This led to my role as Economic Spokesman for the Conservative Party in Wales and the responsibility of shadowing and scrutinising Rhodri Morgan in the early days of the Assembly, when Objective 1 was the key debate. 

I am now the Conservative Chief Whip and shadow Business Minister. 

I am passionate about our community and want to play a part to help change it for the better.   Freeing up business to create wealth and help reform public services to cut out waste is my priority.