Member of Parliament for East Surrey

Elected: 2010

Bio:
Sam was elected MP for East Surrey at the 2010 election. Born in Beaconsfield (August 1976), Sam was educated at state schools in Ghana and Hertfordshire before going on to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Somerville College Oxford, where he also served as President of the Oxford Union.

Sam started his career at Goldman Sachs before leaving to set up his own businesses in the training, employment and internet sectors, winning the CBI Entrepreneur of the Future award in 2005. He has served as School Governor of an Inner London School, on the Board of a Housing Association and on the Development Board of Somerville College, as well as being Vice President of the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy in Lingfield. Sam's interest in politics can be traced back to his roles as a local Association Officer and Chairman of the Bow Group think-tank, where he was the editor of From the Ashes: an anthology of essays on the Future of the Conservative Party.

Sam in Parliament

- With his entrepreneurial background and representing a thriving business community, Sam has been at the forefront of debates on enterprise and the economy. As co-author of the Beyond the Banks report Sam was the first MP to call for credit-easing, campaigning in support of non-bank alternatives to improve access to finance for growing businesses to drive economic recovery and create jobs.

- Sam has taken a strong interest in supporting opportunities for young people, whether in employment or education. He is particularly passionate about widening university access, having also served on the Development Board of Somerville College, Oxford University, since 2004.

- Preserving the natural environment and green belt areas (which cover 95% of East Surrey) are key priorities, and since his election Sam has actively campaigned against a number of proposals that could negatively affect the local environment, including the Surrey Minerals Plan and a hard runway at the Redhill Aerodrome.

- Sam is a member of the International Development Select Committee, carefully scrutinising Britain's aid budget to ensure value for taxpayers' money. He also sits on the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission.


Outside of politics, Sam's hobbies include cooking and running, and in 2008 he completed his first London Marathon. He is a long-suffering Arsenal supporter and follower of Formula 1.





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