Political Career
Simpson served as the National Vice-Chairman of the Federation of Conservative Students from 1972-3.
He was Head of Foreign Affairs and Defence at Conservative Central Office from 1986-8. From 1988-90, he was a Political Adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence (first to George Younger, and then to Tom King).
Simpson was the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Plymouth Devonport at the 1992 General Election, where he lost to the Labour candidate David Jamieson.
At the 1997 General Election, Simpson was elected as the Member of Parliament for Mid Norfolk with a majority of 1,336.
In July 1997, Simpson was appointed to the Conservative Parliamentary Defence Committee. In June 1998, he was appointed a frontbench defence spokesman. From June 1999 - June 2001, he was an Opposition Whip responsible for Treasury, Home Affairs and Health. He was subsequently appointed Shadow Agriculture Spokesman in October 2001. From 2002-5, he was Shadow Minister for Defence, and from 2005-10 he has served as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Within his Mid Norfolk constituency, Simpson was particularly well known for his campaigning for the widening of particular main roads in response to high road fatalities.
Prior to the 2010 general election, Simpson's constituency of Mid Norfolk was redrawn following parliamentary boundary changes. He was selected to stand for the newly created seat of Broadland, which was made up of parts of Mid Norfolk and parts of the Norfolk North and Norwich North constituencies. Simpson won the seat with a majority of 7,292.
Following the 2010 general election, Simpson was appointed the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, in the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government.
Simpson is well known in his party for his summer reading lists. Each year he puts together recommended reading for his party's members.
Simpson often stands out in the House of Commons because of his distinctive moustache and round glasses.
Read more about this topic: Keith Simpson (politician)
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