Matthew Taylor (politician)

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Matthew Taylor

Matthew Owen John Taylor (born 3 January 1963) is a politician in the United Kingdom. He is Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Truro and St Austell in Cornwall.

1 Biography
2 Personal life
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Biography

Matthew Taylor is the adopted son of Kenneth Taylor, a television script writer best known for "Jewel in the Crown."

Politically active from a young age, Taylor was involved in his first election in 1979 at the age of 16, and joined the Cornwall anti-nuclear alliance aged 17. After winning a scholarship, he studied politics, philosophy and economics at University of Oxford, where he became president of the students' union.

In 1986 he was assigned to the then Truro MP David Penhaligon as an economics researcher, but after Penhaligon died in a car crash on his way to St Austell Post Office just before Christmas 1986, Taylor was selected to run as the Liberal candidate in the following by-election, which he won. A few months later he retained the seat at the 1987 general election. Aged 24 he was the youngest MP and took the title "Baby of the House" from Charles Kennedy, holding the title for 10 years. His celebrity status gave him early access to political media and television programs including the BBC's "Question Time", while being an MP in a small party brought quick promotion to the front bench as local government spokesman. Taylor has a permanent constituency office in St Austell, and has an annual travelling surgery when he tows a bright black and yellow caravan around the area.

Taylor has had a successful track record in backing leaders of his party, including those of Paddy Ashdown and eleven years later he ran Charles Kennedy's successful leadership campaign in 1999 after Ashdown stepped down. His loyalty was being made the parties Treasury spokesman, attacking Labour over its decision to shed a penny from the basic rate of income tax, and announcing the policy to raise the upper rate to 50% for people earning over £100,000. He has also been the party's spokesperson on environmental issues.

In early 2007 he announced that he would not be standing again at the next UK general election.^[1] Also with effect from the next UK general election, the parliamentary constituencies in the county of Cornwall are being reorganised.

[edit] Personal life

Taylor is engaged to Vicky Garner, a former director of pressure group Surfers Against Sewage. The couple have a son Arthur Simon Rowan Taylor, born on 18 November 2006 at St Thomas' hospital, London^[2]. They presently reside between Taylor's batchelor constituency cottage in the Clay District near St Dennis, and a flat in London.

Taylor has a self-restored British Racing Green 1967 MG MGB car which he enjoys driving around the Cornish countryside. Each August he reverts to student days with a rucksack and a plane ticket to somewhere different - so far including Asia, Africa, and Central and South America, all on a minimal budget.

[edit] References

^ "Lib Dem MP MP Taylor to step down", BBC News, 2007-01-17. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
^ "MP and fiancee celebrate baby boy", BBC News, 2006-11-20. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.

[edit] External links

Matthew Taylor MP official site
Matthew Taylor MP profile at the site of Liberal Democrats
ePolitix.com - Matthew Taylor
Guardian Politics - Ask Aristotle: Matthew Taylor MP
TheyWorkForYou.com - Matthew Taylor MP
The Public Whip - Matthew Taylor voting record
BBC News - Matthew Taylor profile 16 March 2006

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by David Penhaligon	Member of Parliament for Truro 1987 – present	Incumbent
Preceded by Charles Kennedy	Baby of the House 1987–1997	Succeeded by Christopher Leslie