More About Chris Huhne MP and David Chidgey

Chris Huhne was elected as the MP for Eastleigh in May 2005. He is the Liberal Democrats' Shadow Environment Food and Rural Affairs Secretary.

Before Chris's election to Westminster, he was Hampshire's Member of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2005. He built up a reputation as a local champion for Hampshire interests in Europe. For example, he campaigned to stop the job losses at the Pirelli plant in Bishopstoke following unfair Italian government subsidies. Chris also tackled the bureaucracy in Brussels on behalf of local people: Greenways, the Hampshire company that makes barley straw mats to stop pond algae, was threatened with closure until Chris got the Commission to do a U-turn. And Chris backed Southampton Football Club in its successful efforts to get approval for a new TV deal that will underpin the Saints' premiership status. Chris has also helped local charity Leukaemia Busters in the campaign to help research into the devastating diseases that are ignored by the big drug companies because they affect too few people to be profitable.

Chris's work as an MEP ensured that "sunset" clauses were put into EU law for the first time: these remove powers given to the Commission automatically after four years if it does not consult widely and take decisions openly. Chris was praised for his work helping small businesses raise money through issuing shares and bonds, which made it easier to raise funds outside your own country. Chris was one of the key group of four MEPs who negotiated the fast-track "Lamfalussy" approach to a single financial market. And Chris was the MEP who insisted on full openness in the decision-making of the European Central Bank, which now publishes regular forecasts.

Chris, whose home is in Dutton Lane, Eastleigh, is married to Vicky and they have five children, three of whom are now grown up. Before his election in 1999, Chris ran a business advising pension funds on where to invest safely around the world. Previously, he was a award-winning financial and economic journalist and editor, with The Guardian and The Independent as well as writing four books on economic topics.

David Chidgey

David Chidgey became Lord Chidgey of Hamble-le-Rice on the 27th of June 2005, following eleven years as Eastleigh's Member of Parliament.

David Chidgey won Eastleigh from the Conservatives at a famous by-election in 1994, holding the seat at two General Elections until his retirement in 2005. He has served as the Liberal Democrat member of the influential Foreign Affairs Select Committee, taking a particular interest in Africa, as well as participating in the Joint Committee on Human Rights as the Liberal Democrat Commons member. He also deputised for the Speaker on occasion as a member of the Speaker's Panel. He has also been the party's frontbench spokesman on Trade and Industry, Transport and Employment.

His successes include leading the Liberal Democrats through important acts of parliament such as the National Minimum Wage Act, the Fairness at Work Act and the Vehicle Crime Act. He also led national campaigns to force banks to drop cash machine charges, regulation of the funeral industry and recognising the plight facing the network of sub-post offices. He has also lobbied strongly on issues important to people in Eastleigh Constituency, such as flooding, local job losses, reducing red tape for local businesses, noise pollution, healthcare provision, reducing personal debt and road repair failures.

Prior to his election to Parliament he was a civil engineer, having been Chief Advisor to the Dublin Transport Authority, and as Associate Partner in a firm directing major transport and infrastructure projects in West Africa. He has also been Associate Director in an Eastleigh-based branch of a professional engineering practice, with a particular specialism in projects at local military establishments.

David's professional achievements have been recognised through receiving numerous awards, including the Fellowship of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Fellowship of the Institution of Highways and Transportation and Fellowship of the Institute of Engineers of Ireland. He was also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Transport, a Companion of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a Member of the Institute of Municipal Engineers and a Graduate of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.

David lives in Alresford with his wife and has three grown-up children. He enjoys playing golf, tennis and following cricket.