The Rt Hon David Laws

Biography

David Laws became Minister of State for Schools in the Department for Education and Minister of State in the Cabinet Office in September 2012. He was elected the Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil, Somerset in 2001.

Education

David studied economics at King’s College, Cambridge.

Political career

David was elected MP for Yeovil in 2001.

He served on the Treasury Select Committee until becoming the Liberal Democrats’ Shadow Chief Secretary, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary and finally, Shadow Education Secretary.

David helped negotiate the coalition agreement with the Conservative Party before briefly serving as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, where he oversaw the coalition public spending plans.

Career outside politics

From 1987 to 1992, David worked as a vice president at JP Morgan before leaving to join Barclays as a managing director. He left the City in 1994 to become economics adviser to the Liberal Democrats.