Career
Educated at Colston"s School, Bristol. He was leader of North Wiltshire District Council from 1984-1987 and a Wiltshire County Councillor from 1985-1997. He was managing director of his family"s plant hire firm in Bristol Road in Chippenham.
He retains a directorship and shareholding in Marden Holdings Limited headquartered in Bristol Road, Chippenham.
He contested Walsall North in 1992. He was elected to the House of Commons in the 1997 general election.
Served on opposition front bench from 1998-2007 Chairman Regulatory Reform select committee from July 2010-September 2012. Chairman High Speed 2 Hybrid Bill select committee May 2014 to date.