Mike Penning

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Mike Penning MP
Mike Penning
Member of Parliament
for Hemel Hempstead
Incumbent
Assumed office 
5 May 2005
Preceded by Tony McWalter
Majority 499 (1.1%)
Born 1957
North London
Nationality British
Political party Conservative
Spouse Angela
Children Adele and Abbey
Alma mater University of Reading
Profession Soldier, firefighter, journalist

Michael Alan "Mike" Penning (born 1957) is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hemel Hempstead.

Penning was born in London and raised in Essex. After high school he joined the British Army, serving in the Grenadier Guards. Penning subsequently worked as a firefighter, attended Reading University, and worked as a political journalist and latterly as a media consultant.

Penning was Sir Teddy Taylor's election agent during the 1997 general election. He stood for election in the safe Labour seat of Thurrock in the 2001 general election, coming second behind Andrew MacKinlay.

Following this he became a chief adviser to former Conservative leader William Hague, most notably touring on the 'Keep the Pound' bus together, a move which in part caused tension within the Conservative Party over Britain's relationship with Europe. He later became the Conservative Party's deputy head of media under the brief and unpopular party leadership of Iain Duncan Smith. He was seen as one of his most trusted aides.

In the 2005 general election he stood in Hemel Hempstead, and narrowly defeated the Labour Co-operative incumbent Tony McWalter. Penning overturned McWalter's 2001 majority of 3,742 votes, winning (after a partial recount) by 499 votes.

In July 2007 Penning was promoted by David Cameron to Shadow Minister for Health.

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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Tony McWalter		 Member of Parliament for Hemel Hempstead
2005–present		 Incumbent