About David

David was born and brought up in the Midlands, attending his local grammar school before studying Engineering at Imperial Collage where he joined the RAF as a cadet pilot officer.

After graduating David qualified as a chartered accountant and subsequently joined Accenture, the technology and consulting Firm. In 1989 he became the youngest ever UK Partner and subsequently built the business from a staff level of 400 to over 15,000. His final position was as a Global Managing Partner responsible for a business with a turnover of £500million.

David is now Chairman of Fairbridge in Greater Manchester. A charity dedicated to improving the life chances of young people aged 16-21.

David is married to Nicky, a primary schoolteacher, and they have lived in Cheshire since 1990. Since 2009 they have lived in Walton. David and Nicky have four children Andrew, Laura, Emma and Victoria. David was a Borough Councilor from 2007-09 when he stepped down to focus on wining Warrington back for the Conservatives. He remains a primary school Governor.

Since his selection to fight this seat in March 2007, David has been involved in many activities throughout the town. Working with a group of businessmen he saved the local football club and subsequently became a Director. He has led fundraising initiatives for Warrington based charities, St Rocco's and Families United. About a year ago he started the Warrington Jobs Club an initiative which aims to help local resident's get back into work.

Five Frequently Asked Questions:

1) So after all this why do you want to go into politics?

My grandfather was a docker, yet my family was able to take advantage of some fantastic opportunities, which, coupled with hard work, enabled us to get on in life. Low income families today are still working just as hard, but they lack the opportunities that earlier generations had. As a director of a charity which works with children and young people from deprived communities, I know that young people today are suffering as much from poverty of aspiration as poverty of income. Yet the current Government's approach seems to be: ...don't start a business, don't buy your home, don't try and leave money to your children, don't try and get on....." That has to change and I believe I have the skills and the life experience to make a difference

2)What does your family think about you becoming an MP?

Nicky is not terribly interested in party politics but she actually quite likes canvassing. My grown up children are more left wing than me but then I was too at their age. Fingers crossed they'll vote for me anyway!

4) Which part of our politics would you most like to change?

The negative stuff: the lies, the smears, the spin. There's just no place for it in politics; it achieves nothing and voters hate it. Gordon Brown said that he would stop this kind of thing when he entered Number 10, yet last year we found that one of his closest advisors was planning a disgraceful smear campaign against senior Tories. It took me a while to get used to being called a " politician" but now I realise that it's actually a form of abuse!

5) Who do you admire most in politics?

• Frank Field, Labour MP for Birkenhead, for his independence and ability to influence the quality of debate from the backbenches.
• Mrs Thatcher, whether you agree with her policies or not, she got things done.