Biography

Nick (Nicholas Barton) Harvey was born on 3 August 1961 at Chandlers Ford, Hampshire.  He currently holds the position of Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Spokesman.  Prior to entering Parliament, he made a career in communications and marketing, working with City consultants Dewe Rogerson.  His first affiliation was to the Liberal Party in 1974. As President-elect of Middlesex University Students Union, he took the outgoing Trotskyist executive to the High Court in May 1981, to prevent an illegal donation of Union Funds.

 
He was appointed the Liberal Agent for Finchley in July 1983 and contested a Barnet Council seat for the Liberals in May 1986. In December 1986, he was selected to contest Enfield Southgate, which he contested at the June 1987 General Election against Michael Portillo, coming second with more than 10,000.

In March 1990, he was selected as the Liberal Democrats’ candidate for North Devon which he captured from the Conservatives Tony Speller at the 1992 General Election by 794 votes, a swing to the Liberal Democrats of 4.73%.

After being elected he served as the party’s transport spokesman, 1992 to 1994, opposing rail privatisation and pressing for funds to be switched from road to public transport. From 1994-97 he was the party’s trade and industry spokesman, supporting competition in the gas industry and presenting new policy on small business, utilities regulation, executive pay and infrastructure investment. He was spokesman on the English Regions from 1997-99.
In Charles Kennedys first reshuffle of Lib Dem spokesmen, in October 1999, Nick Harvey returned to a front line Parliamentary role as Health spokesman, following a long and notably successful stint at Party HQ as Chairman of Campaigns and Communications. Following his re-election in 2001 he became the spokesman on Culture, Media and Sport. He stood down from this post in 2003. 
Following Sir Menzies Campbell’s election as party leader in March 2006 Nick was appointed to his current position of Defence spokesman.
Nick Harvey has been described as ‘a shrewdly sensible, independent-minded young veteran politician’ by political commentator Andrew Roth. He has also been described as a charmer and ‘young and dashing’ (Sarah Lonsdale, Observer).

He has called the Maastricht Treaty ‘a rich man’s club’ and has called for a referendum and an expanded European Community.