Nick Hurd Minister of State, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Parliamentary and ministerial career  First elected in 2005, Hurd spent the first years as an Opposition Whip (2007-08) during which time he sponsored the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.  He was then appointed Shadow Minister for Charities[Social Enterprise and Volunteering] 2008-10 and went on to hold a similar role in government, as Parliamentary Secretary (Minister for Civil Society), Cabinet Office 2010-14.  He then moved departments again, appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development after the election in May 2015 to then move again to the newly created Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as Minister of State.  His exact responsibilities have yet to be confirmed.

Background views  The fourth generation of his family to enter the House of Commons, Nick Hurd is an Etonian former banker and businessman.  Ahead of becoming an MP, Hurd followed a career in financial services and communication industries. For three years he represented Flemings bank in Brazil and was a director of the telecommunications provider Band-X Ltd.  Hurd had worked as an adviser to the Shadow Trade and Industry team and set up the Party’s Small Business Network.  In 2003 he became Chief of Staff to the Conservative frontbencher Tim Yeo and worked on policy development on transport, health, education and the environment.  Hurd is a firm Eurosceptic and was on the fundraising committee for the ‘No’ campaign on the European Constitution. He made his maiden speech on the European Union: “a grand multi-national company that has lost touch with its customer base”.  In 2006 Hurd came top of the ballot for Private Members' Bills, and adopted a Bill drafted by community and environment groups to promote localism in decision-making and public spending. It became law as the Sustainable Communities Act in 2007.

Contact details (tbc) Nick Hurd MP Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Web: www.gov.uk/beis