David Simmonds | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Shadow Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government | |
| Assumed office 19 July 2024 | |
| Leader | Kemi Badenoch |
| Member of Parliament forRuislip, Northwood and Pinner | |
| Assumed office 12 December 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Nick Hurd |
| Majority | 7,581 (16.1%) |
| Member ofHillingdon London Borough Council for Ickenham ward Cowley (1998–2002) | |
| In office 7 May 1998 – 5 May 2022 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Timothy Simmonds 1976 (age 48–49) Kent, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Durham University (BA Hons) Birkbeck, University of London (PGC) |
| Website | Official website |
David Timothy Simmonds (born 1976)CBE is a BritishConservative Party politician who has served as theMember of Parliament (MP) forRuislip, Northwood and Pinner from2019.[1][2] Simmonds was formerly a councillor onHillingdon London Borough Council, having served from 1998 to 2022.[3] He has been Shadow Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government since July 2024.[4]
David Simmonds was born in 1976, the son of Rory and Veronica Simmonds. He attendedCardinal Newman RC School inPontypridd, before going to Grey College,University of Durham, where he gained a BA. Simmonds gained aPostgraduate Certificate atBirkbeck College, University of London, and a Financial Planning Certificate from the Chartered Institute of Insurers (CII). His professional background is in financial services, where he worked for several high street banks after qualifying with the CII in 1997. He was a non-executive director at NHS Hillingdon.[5]
Simmonds was elected as a Conservative councillor for theLondon Borough of Hillingdon in1998, winning his seat inCowley from theLabour Party.[6] From 2002 to 2022, he represented the borough'sIckenham ward.[7]
He has served in hung and majority administrations as a committee chairman and Cabinet Member, with responsibilities including planning, housing, social services, education and children's services. He led work for theLocal Government Association in a number of high-profile areas including children's services, education, immigration and Brexit, serving as Conservative Group Leader and Deputy Chairman of the organisation representing councils. Simmonds was also Chairman of the Children and Young People Board from 2011 to 2015.[3]
His previous public service includes as Chairman of the National Employer's Organisation for Schoolteachers (NEOST) and of the European Federation of Education Employers (EFEE), as an active member of the Committee of the Regions and leader of the UK Conservative delegation there, and at theCongress of the Council of Europe.
He is known for his work on refugee children and led the implementation of the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (VPRS) with then-Home SecretaryTheresa May to resettle vulnerable refugees to areas of the UK volunteering to take them in.
He served as Deputy Chairman and previously Treasurer of the Conservative Councillors Association, and served as an associate non-executive director in his localNHS and as a magistrate in North-West London. He stepped down as Deputy Leader of Hillingdon Council and as Deputy Chairman of the LGA following his election to Parliament. He was Deputy Leader of the council from 2002 to 2020, and Deputy Chairman of the LGA from 2015 to 2020.[3]
At the2001 general election, Simmonds stood as the Conservative candidate inCaerphilly, coming third with 11.4% of the vote behind theLabour candidateWayne David and thePlaid Cymru candidateLindsay Whittle.[8][9]
At the2005 general election, he stood inErewash, coming second with 30.4% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MPLiz Blackman.[10]
Simmonds was elected to Parliament as MP forRuislip, Northwood and Pinner at the2019 general election with 55.6% of the vote and a majority of 16,394.[11][12] The constituency includes the Ickenham ward he represented as a councillor. Simmonds is a member of theEducation Select Committee and theFinance Committee.
Simmonds is the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Migration, the APPG on Housing and Planning, the APPG for Social Workers, and the APPG for Airport Communities.[13]
On 7 July 2022, Simmonds was elected to the executive of the1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs.[14]
In February 2023, Simmonds was re-selected as the Conservative candidate for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner at the2024 general election.[15]
He was awarded aCBE in the2015 Birthday Honours list.[16]
Simmonds is married to an NHS doctor, and has two children. He lists his recreations as travelling in Europe, wine and modern British prints.[17][18][3]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forRuislip, Northwood and Pinner 2019–present | Incumbent |
