Conservative MP Mid Bedfordshire

Date of birth

20 March 1948

Political profile

Jonathan Sayeed entered Parliament in 1983, when he defeated Tony Benn in Bristol East.

Just as Mr Benn made a rapid comeback in a different seat, so Mr Sayeed, who lost his seat in 1992, returned representing Mid Bedfordshire in 1997.

Despite his long parliamentary career, he only achieved his first frontbench post in 2001, when he was appointed as junior environment food spokesman.

He had previously served briefly as a PPS to the Paymaster General in the early 1990s.

He is, economically, on the right of the party and is particularly opposed to British entry into the single currency.

He is, however, on the more liberal wing of the party socially and is a well informed and thoughtful contributor to debates on foreign policy in the Middle East.

However, as a former naval officer, he retains strong views on defence and was one of the MPs to continue to oppose the lifting of the ban on homosexuals in the armed forces.

He served for a time as an environment, food and rural affairs spokesman, but resigned from the Conservative frontbench in March 2003, citing his opposition to the Conservative leadership's support for military action in Iraq.

Contact

admin@midbeds-con.co.uk

Constituency office 01462 811992