Background
Educated at Stowe School, Colvile hails from a Naval family: his father served as an officer in the Royal Navy for over thirty years, his grandfather was the First Lieutenant of Plymouth’s Naval barracks, whilst his uncle was a Royal Marines officer who served at Stonehouse.
Career
Colvile has lived for the past 10 years at The Millfields (formerly the Royal Naval Hospital), Plymouth. Colvile says his interest in politics took hold whilst at school when he became fascinated by how an idea could become law or a policy to protect civil liberties, to enhance people’s freedom and for the enjoyment of life. He joined the Conservative Party’s staff at the age of 21, working for Ministers and backbench MPs.
lieutenant gave him experience of political life and he was later entrusted with devising community campaigns in which saw the Conservatives returned to Parliament a number of its candidates in marginal seats.
Since 26 July 2010, Colvile has served on the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee. Colvile was named by Conservative Home as one of a minority of loyal Conservative backbench MPs not to have voted against the government in any significant rebellions.
Colvile was criticised when it was revealed in October 2011 that he received hospitality equivalent (on the market) to £694.80 from Japan Tobacco, owners of the Benson & Hedges and Silk Cut brands, paying for a visit to see Test Match cricket at The Oval that summer, coming shortly after he voted in favour of relaxing the smoking ban. Colvile was again criticised in July 2013 when it was revealed he received two free tickets (worth £1,260) to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, again from Japan Tobacco.
Following a spell at an agency advising on business development, since 1996 Oliver Colvile has run a communications business specialising in handling community consultation for major regeneration projects.
Views
Colvile found himself in more controversy in March 2013 when he defended an all-expenses-paid trip made to Saudi Arabia as a delegate of the United Kingdom Defence Forum that he received from the Saudi Arabian government.
Membership
55th United Kingdom Parliament. 56th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was also a member of the Public Bill Committee for the Defence Reform Acting 2014. He is a member of the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors, and is also a former director of the Enterprise Forum.
Colvile is a keen cricketer and a member of the Addis Army, which supports the England national side: he is a member of Marylebone Cricket Club and Lansdowne Clubs, which were criticised by MPs after Colvile led a "death army" to the House of Commons in a protest related to capital punishment.