Born: October 9, 1966.
Family: Married to Samantha Cameron since 1996, one daughter, one surviving son. They are expecting another child in September.
Education: Heatherdown Preparatory School; Eton; Brasenose College, Oxford.
Early work experience: Included working as a researcher for MP Tim Rathbone (his godfather).
Pre-parliamentary career:
- Worked
for the Conservative Research Department, 1988-93. Sent to Downing St to brief John Major for PMQs (Prime Minister's questions) from 1991 and, from 1992, for general election press conferences. Was working as a special adviser to Chancellor Norman Lamont at the time of Black Wednesday (1992). Also worked for Michael Howard when he was Home Secretary.
- Director of corporate affairs at Carlton Communications, 1994-2001.
Parliament:
- Elected Conservative MP for Witney on June 7, 2001.
- Served as a member of the Commons home affairs select committee. Invited to coach Iain Duncan Smith for PMQs in 2002.
- Became a vice-chairman of the Conservative Party in November 2003 and appointed local government spokesman in 2004, before promotion into the shadow Cabinet as head of policy co-ordination. Later became shadow Education Secretary.
- Elected leader of the Conservative Party on December 6, 2005.
IN HIS OWN WORDS ...
On himself: "I am Conservative to the core of my being, as those who know me best will testify."
On his politics: "I joined this party because I believe in freedom. We are the only party believing that if you give people freedom and responsibility, they will grow stronger and society will grow stronger."
On Iraq: "I think it was right to remove Saddam Hussein."
On Tony Blair: "He was the future once."
On his destiny: "I am the heir to Blair."
On his party: "We will reflect the country we aspire to govern, and the sound of modern Britain is a complex harmony, not a male voice choir."
On allegations of drug-taking in his youth: "I did lots of things before I came into politics which I shouldn't have done. We all did."
On Gordon Brown: "The character of his Government - secretive, power-hoarding, controlling - is his character ... For the health of our democracy it is now essential that this shameless defender of the old elite goes as soon as possible."
What others say: "The more he talks, the less he says." (Gordon Brown)
"An actor who has never had a proper job." (Tam Dalyell, former Labour MP)
