The Rt Hon Simon Burns

Biography

Simon Burns was Minister of State for Transport from September 2012 to October 2013. He was elected Conservative MP for Chelmsford in May 2010 and from June 1987 to May 1997. He was also elected Conservative MP for West Chelmsford from May 1997 to May 2010.

Education

He was educated at Christ the King School in Ghana and Stamford School, Lincolnshire before going on to study modern history at Worcester College, Oxford. He also has an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from Anglia University.

Political career

Highlights include:

• MP for Chelmsford, 1987 to 2017
• Parliamentary Private Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1987 to 1994
• Assistant Government Whip, 1994 to 1995
• Lord Commissioner of Her Majesty’s Treasury 1995 to 1996
• Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health, 1996 to 1997
• Shadow Health Minister, 2001 to 2005
• Opposition Whip, 2005 to 2010
• Minister of State for Health, 2010 to 2012
• Minister of State for Transport September, 2012 to present

Career outside politics

Before becoming an MP, Simon worked for Senator George McGovern in his presidential election bid against Richard Nixon. From 1973 to 1975 he was a committee member, Political Action Officer and Secretary of Oxford University Conservative Association, and a member of the Oxford Union. In 2008 he worked for Hillary Clinton’s New Hampshire primary election campaign.

Personal life

Simon is interested in American Politics, collecting political books and swimming.

Announcements

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• Network Rail Operations Focus conference
  • 16 October 2013
  • Speech
• HS2
  • 12 September 2013
  • Written statement
• Property owners protected by HS2 compensation scheme
  • 12 September 2013
  • Press release
• Appeal Court categorically rejects all legal challenges to HS2
  • 24 July 2013
  • Press release
• Air navigation guidance to the Civil Aviation Authority
  • 25 June 2013
  • Written statement
• New deal will bring benefits to UK and Malaysian consumers
  • 21 June 2013
  • Press release
• Views sought on holiday protection scheme
  • 23 May 2013
  • Press release
• Call for evidence on the government’s review of the balance of competences between the United Kingdom and the European Union: transport
  • 14 May 2013
  • Written statement
• Speech for Railtex exhibition
  • 30 April 2013
  • Speech
• British Transport Police Authority (BTPA)
  • 25 March 2013
  • Written statement

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