Speakers

Steve Webb MP
Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Energy, Food and Rural Affairs
Liberal Democrats

Steve Webb is the Member of Parliament for Northavon, near Bristol, and the Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Energy, Food and Rural Affairs.

Steve was born in Birmingham in 1965 and attended the local comprehensive school before going on to Hertford College, Oxford to study Philosophy, Politics & Economics.

He worked for the Institute for Fiscal Studies, a non-party think-tank, for 9 years, where he specialised in research on poverty, taxes and benefits.  During this time he became a specialist adviser to Frank Field's Social Security Committee and also spent some time in the Ukraine on a ‘technical assistance’ mission with the IMF, advising on long-term pension and welfare reform.

In 1995 Steve was appointed Professor of Social Policy at Bath University and selected to stand as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Northavon, where he was elected in 1997.  He was the party’s spokesman on Work and Pensions from 1999-2005, and Health spokesman from 2005-06.  During 2007, he chaired the process of writing the party’s next General Election manifesto, and in 2008 he became the spokesman on Environment and Energy issues.    

His political interests include third world issues and he is currently Treasurer of the all-party Christians in Parliament group.

Steve is married to Helen, who was formerly chaplain at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.  They have two children and live in the constituency.  Steve’s personal interests include IT, music and West Bromwich Albion FC.