Ian Taylor (UK politician)

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For other persons of the same name, see Ian Taylor.

Ian Colin Taylor MBE (born 18 April 1945) is a politician in the United Kingdom. He is Conservative Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Esher and Walton since 1997 and was previously MP for Esher from 1987.

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[edit] Early life

He went to Whitley Abbey School on Abbey Road in Coventry. He studied at Keele University, receiving a BA (Hons) in Economics, Politics and Modern History in 1967. He then did research at the London School of Economics. In 1969, he joined Hill Samuel & Co. In 1971, he became the manager of the European Department at Stirling & Co. From 1975-8, he lived in Paris. He worked as a Director for Mathercourt Securities Ltd from 1980-91. He is an Associate of the UK Society of Investment Professionals and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists.

[edit] Political career

He served as Minister for Science and Technology under John Major from 1994 to 1997. He is an ally of Kenneth Clarke, although in the 2005 Conservative leadership contest he backed David Davis.

Taylor is known for his pro-EU links (Chairman of the European Movement 200-2004 and member of Britain in Europe council until 2005. These views are at odds now with his generally-Eurosceptic Conservative Party.

He specialises in science and technology issues - he chairs the Conservative policy group on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. He is also on the ippr Commission on National Security.

Since 1997, he has been a non-executive director of or adviser to various companies (see Register of Members' Interests). These now include Next Fifteen Communications plc, Petards Group plc and AXA-Framlington Limited.

[edit] Personal life

He has two sons (Arthur, born December 1972, and Ralph, born May 1980) from his marriage on June 17th 1974 to (Lavender Lilias) Carole Alport (born December 1950 and daughter of Baron Cuthbert Alport).

[edit] Award

in 2008 he was the winner of the Sir Arthur Clarke Award for Best Individual Achievement. This was for his work in promoting UK space activity, including his position as co-chair of the Parliamentary Space Committee, and also for his efforts to promote the uptake of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in UK education.

[edit] External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Sir Carol Mather		 Member of Parliament for Esher
1987–1997		 Succeeded by
(constituency abolished)
Preceded by
(new constituency)		 Member of Parliament for Esher and Walton
1997–		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Patrick McLoughlin
as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Technology		 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Trade and Technology
1994–1997		 Succeeded by
Lord Sainsbury (Labour
Languages