He was elected as a member of the European Parliament in 1999, where as Trade and Industry spokesman for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe he led the move to open up the domestic telecoms market, allowing consumers to pick their telephone provider for the first time and advocated trade measures against illegally logged timber. He was a co-founder of the Campaign for Parliamentary Reform, which argued for more transparency and accountability in the European Parliament.

Throughout his time as an MEP, Clegg wrote essays on public policy issues including greening the WTO, secondary education policy, and reform of the EU’s decision making procedures. For several years he was a columnist for The Guardian Unlimited.

Clegg stood down from the European Parliament in 2004 and lectured part time at Sheffield and Cambridge Universities. He was elected as MP for Sheffield Hallam in 2005 with a majority of 8,682. Charles Kennedy appointed him as Europe spokesman, acting as deputy to Sir Menzies Campbell. When Campbell won the 2006 leadership election, he appointed Clegg as Shadow Home Secretary.

Clegg has spearheaded the Liberal Democrats’ defence of civil liberties, proposing a Freedom Bill to repeal unnecessary and illiberal legislation, campaigning against Identity Cards and the retention of innocent people’s DNA, and arguing against excessive counter-terrorism legislation. He has campaigned for prison reform, a liberal approach to immigration, and defended the Human Rights Act against ongoing attacks from across the political spectrum.

In January 2007 he launched the Liberal Democrat’s We Can Cut Crime campaign, widely welcomed by local campaigners as a new and successful way for the party to campaign effectively on crime.

Nick is married to Miriam Gonzalez Durantez and has two young children.

In 2007 he launched a major anti-crime campaign and survey with Ming Campbell: www.wecancutcrime.com and its sister site www.homeofficewatch.com

Nick is a prolific author, journalist and pamphleteer, and has been a part-time lecturer at Sheffield University and a guest lecturer at Cambridge. A founder of the cross-party Campaign for Parliamentary Reform, Nick is married to Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, a Middle East expert in the Foreign Office, and they have two sons.

WHO'S WHO

Nick Clegg MP

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Lib Dem majority: 8,682  (21%)

Constituency: Sheffield Hallam

Region: Yorks & Humber

PA Number: 503

Address:
85 Nethergreen Road
Sheffield
S11 7EH

Tel: 0114 230 9002

Fax: 0114 230 9614

Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Web: http://www.nickclegg.org.uk

Date of Birth: 07/01/1967

Occupation: MP

Education: MA, Anthropology, Cambridge University (1986-1989). Studied political philosophy at the University of Minnesota (1989-1990). MA, European Affairs, College of Europe, Bruges (1991-1992)

Experience: Journalist and lecturer; political consultant; European Commission official 1994-6; Adviser to Sir Leon Brittan, 1996-9.

Parliamentary Experience: 2007- Liberal Democrat leader, 2006-7 Shadow Home Secretary, 2005-06 Shadow spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, 1999-2004 Lib Dem Member of European Parliament for the East Midlands

Memberships: Founder member of the Campaign for Parliamentary Reform.

Marital status/children: Married, two sons

Interests: Nick is an avid lover of the outdoors, an expert skier and keen mountaineer. He speaks five European languages.

RESULTS  2005 Election

Seat: Sheffield Hallam	Liberal Democrats 20,710 (51%)
Turnout: 40,427 (68%)	Conservative 12,028 (30%)
Swing 1.5% Lib Dem to Con	Labour 5,110 (13%)
	Other 2,579 (6%)