More information can be found at www.jamesduddridge.com or contact James at:
Conservative Campaign HQ
Suite 1
Strand House
742 Southchurch Road
Southend-On-Sea
SS1 2PS
Tel: 01702 616135
Fax: 01702 619071 

Email: james@jamesduddridge.com

James Duddridge was elected as the Member of Parliament for Rochford & Southend East in May 2005 and re-elected in May 2010 with a vastly increased majority. Born in 1971, James is one of the Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidates, and lives in Southend with his wife Katy, their two young sons Tom and Henry, and their two cats Boris and Barney.

Upon leaving Essex University, James went on to pursue a successful business career in the private sector. He was a banker with Barclays in the City of London and Africa for 10 years, rising to National Sales Director in the Ivory Coast and eventually running the bank’s operations in Botswana with a staff of 750 people. He was also a founder member of the highly successful national polling firm YouGov. He remains interested in financial matters and the effect of legislation on business.

Prior to entering the House of Commons in 2005 with a majority of 5,494, James fought the Labour stronghold of Rother Valley in the General Election in 2001, achieving a 5% swing in his favour.

James is active in the community and has run a number of campaigns in Rochford & Southend, including:

• Successfully preventing the closure of Sutton Road Post Office
• Campaigning to prevent the closure of Southend's Driving Test Centre
• Supporting Southend's cancer centre
• Stopping the merger of Essex's Police force
• Campaigning for fair funding for Southend Council and an accurate Census in 2011
• Disposal of radioactive waste

In addition to his constituency campaigns, James also works closely with local schools and community groups, and has hosted several visits to Westminster to encourage young people to take an active interest in politics and citizenship.

Since entering the House of Commons, James has sat on both the Commons Environment Select Committee, and the International Development Select Committee. He was appointed to David Cameron’s front-bench in January 2008 as Opposition Whip with responsibility for the Department of Work and Pensions and the Cabinet Office. In December he was promoted within his role as Opposition Whip, and is responsible for the Treasury department. After being re elected in May 2010 James was appointed a Lord Commissioner and Government Whip with responsibility for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Education

In Parliament, James has also served on committees scrutinising legislation, such as the Charities Bill, Corporate Manslaughter Bill, Planning Bill and Pensions Bill. His policy interests include pensions, financial services and Africa, in particular Zimbabwe.

In his spare time, James enjoys spending time with his wife Katy and their sons, Tom and Henry. James takes a keen interest in sport, especially football, supporting his local team Southend United, as well as Southampton. He also enjoys running, cycling, DIY and real ale, although not always in that order!