Patrick McLoughlin
was born in Staffordshire in 1957, the son of a miner who died when he was seven.

After working on a farm, Patrick became an underground miner and NUM member. Later, he was an industrial representative for the National Coal Board's Western Area Marketing Department.

Patrick is married with two children; they live in the constituency.

He was elected as the Member of Parliament for West Derbyshire in a by-election in 1986. Between 1989 and 1997 Mr McLoughlin held ministerial posts at the Departments of Transport, Employment, Trade and Industry and the Whips' Office.

He was appointed the Opposition Deputy Chief Whip in June 1998.