About Me

I’m often asked about my background, my experience and why I want to be the MP for Kingston and Surbiton.

I’m 32 and live in Kingston with my husband, Marcus and our son George. I work as a management consultant, specialising in healthcare (mainly working with the NHS). If I’m elected I will give up this job, but I’ve continued working while a candidate not only because we needed the income, but also because it’s such valuable experience. I believe MPs should have experience outside politics.

My first job was as a receptionist. That was while I was a student, and I admit I wasn’t very good at it. I also waitressed and did admin work in my local hospital. After university, I joined the graduate training scheme at PricewaterhouseCoopers. That gave me a chance to work in many different companies in the UK and Europe. After three years at PwC I joined AOL, where my work involved setting up partnerships and then managing a new business unit selling films, music and games online. After five years at AOL, I had a moment of revelation when I realised I wasn’t getting any closer to the ambition I started my career with – improving the NHS. Although I’d achieved the first step of gaining useful private sector experience, my career was now taking me further away from healthcare.

At that point I started to speak to people in the NHS to see how I might get a management job, but the task proved impossible. At the time, there seemed to be no way in. Instead, I got two fabulous opportunities. Firstly the chance to work in parliament for the Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, advising on media policy. Though this was still not healthcare, it gave me an opportunity to understand the practicalities of politics and policy making better, and start finding out about how to stand to be an MP. Secondly, I was offered my current job, as a management consultant in a company which is a global leader in the healthcare sector. This has given me the chance to work with the NHS and private healthcare providers, in the UK and internationally, and spend time with many doctors, nurses and other professionals working in the NHS. It’s also given me some expertise to inform policy work I’ve been doing for Andrew Lansley and the Conservative health team.

Alongside my career, I’ve fitted in voluntary work and fundraising for charities. My most inspiring voluntary work experience has been giving public speaking classes in London schools, where it was wonderful to see children transformed – starting the day too shy to speak in front of their class, and finishing off giving passionate speeches. I spent time in a diverse range of schools, seeing some of London’s best but also some of the worst, where all we could really do was keep the class under control. It made me realise how difficult it is to teach in such schools, but also how difficult it is for children in these schools to succeed. My interest in education has led me to visit many local schools in the constituency, where in general standards are high but with some exceptions. A few of our schools need to do better to make sure all our young people have the best possible start in life.

I was lucky to have a fantastic education. I took my GCSEs at Woldingham School in Surrey and went to sixth form at Westminster School in London. I grew up in Surrey, not far from Redhill, and have an elder brother. My parents both worked in local hospitals, my mother as a doctor, my father a surgeon. Their careers established the principle for me that you should spend your life doing something which will help others. Their work also inspired my interest in politics; we had great family debates about the NHS and how it could be fixed. I also did work experience in hospitals where I saw the frustration of many of the doctors and nurses. That led me to reading PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics) at Oxford University, where I also met Marcus. We got married in 2005.

Over the years, my interest in the NHS has extended into many other areas that Government is involved in. I think anyone who says politics doesn’t make a difference is completely wrong. Who we have in Government makes a huge difference, the local Council affects everyone’s lives and an MP can do much to help their constituents locally and through their influence in Westminster. That’s what I want to do as an MP – make a difference for people in this constituency.

As a Conservative MP, I want to be part of a Government that changes life for the better in this country, that gives us the fresh start we so badly need, that knows that the place of Government is to support society but not to interfere in every part of life, that manages the country’s economy for long term stability, that helps the world use its resources sustainably and peacefully, and uses its power for good but knows its limits.

Promoted by Nick Kilby on behalf of Helen Whately, both of 3 Bridle Close, Surbiton Rd, Kingston, KT1 2JW. Hosted by SiteMaker Software Ltd, Suite 360, Princess House, 50-60 East Castle Street, London, W1W 8EA