Chief WhipRichard's ExperienceRichard was elected Conservative MEP for the South East Region in 2004. He became the Chief Whip of the Conservatives in the European Parliament in January 2007 and is Conservative Spokesman on Budgets in the European Parliament. He was PPS to Jonathan Evans MEP from July to December 2004. He is a member of the Budgets Committee, and a substitute member of the Employment & Social Affairs Committee.
Richard worked extensively in Canada and New Zealand before establishing a farming business in Sussex. He developed his own business processing and retailing dairy products, and subsequently became a founder director and was for some years the chairman of United Milk Plc.
He has been the chairman of NFU Corporate, the organisation that represents Britain's farmer controlled agri-business and co-operatives in London and Brussels. He has also been a member of the Minister of Agriculture's food chain advisory committee.
Richard was a candidate in the 1997 General Election (North Devon constituency) and also the 1999 European election (South East region). Richard has been a Conservative Association chairman and has also served on the Sussex county executive.About RichardRichard was born in 1947 in Folkestone, Kent. He is married with three daughters. Richard was educated at The King's School, Canterbury and studied agriculture and management at Seale-Hayne College in Devon.
Richard has had a lifelong interest in further education and training. He has been the chairman of a further education college for a number of years as well as serving on several public bodies in the education sector. His interests include music, theatre, sport, aviation and country pursuits.Contact DetailsEmail: richardjames.ashworth@europarl.europa.euWebsite: http://www.richardashworth.comTelephone: 01444 474858Fax: 01444 416201
Spokesman on Development and the ACPNirj's ExperienceNirj was first elected MEP for the South East region in 1999. In the European Parliament, he is Conservative Spokesman on Development and Cooperation. He is a Member of the Development Committee and a substitute member on Regional Policy, Tourism and Transport. He was a Special Advisor for Ethnic Affairs to the Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP.About NirjNirj was educated at St Joseph's Catholic College, Colombo and Loughborough University. He has been an aeronautical Engineer, Scientist and a Company Chairman and Director from 1997-99. He was a Member of Parliament, Brentford & Isleworth, from 1992-97. He was PPS to Minister of State, Scottish Office, 1996-97. Since 1985, he has been a HM Deputy Lieutenant for the Lord Lieutenancy of London. He was Chairman of the Bow Group in 1981 and on the Council of the Royal Commonwealth Society from 1976-80.
His interests include voluntary work for St John's Ambulance Brigade and writing. He was born in 1948 and is married with one child.Contact DetailsEmail: mail@nirjdeva.comWebsite: http://www.nirjdeva.comTelephone: 01784 432070Fax: 01784 435311
Spokesman on Budgetary ControlAbout JamesJames was elected MEP for South East region in 1999. He was first elected MEP for Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, 1984-89 and MEP for Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire East in 1994-99. He was Vice-Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament from 1999-2004. He was Conservative spokesman for Budgets from 1994-2000.
James was co-founder and patron of Thames Action and Resource Group for Education and Training (TARGET). He is the founder of the European Ideas Network, and the Transatlantic Policy Network (TPN).
Born in 1949, James has two children. His interests include golf, skiing, gardening and music.Contact DetailsEmail: james.elles@europarl.europa.euWebsite: http://www.jameselles.comTelephone: 01494 673745Fax: 01494 670428
Member of the Constitutional Affairs CommitteeDaniel's ExperienceDaniel was Special Adviser to the Rt Hon Michael Howard MP from 1997-8, and Director of the European Research Group from 1994-99. He has been a leader-writer for the Daily Telegraph since 1996, and writes a column for the German newspaper Die Welt.
Born in 1971, Daniel is married with two young children. His publications include "A Treaty Too Far", "The Euro: Bad for Business", "The case for EFTA" and "What if Britain votes No?".
He speaks French and Spanish.About DanielDaniel was first elected MEP for the South East region in 1999. He is a member of the Constitutional Affairs Committee and a substitute member of the Development Committee.Contact DetailsEmail: office@hannan.co.ukWebsite: http://www.hannan.co.ukTelephone: 01372 453678Fax: 01372 453741
