Dr. Stephen Ladyman

Dr. Ladyman was educated at Liverpool Polytechnic and Strathclyde University and began his career as a biologist. He later moved into computers and specialised in setting up IT systems in medical research environments. He moved to South Thanet in 1990 to work for Pfizer.

Dr. Ladyman is married and has two step sons, a step daughter and a daughter. He lives in Ramsgate.

He was a Thanet Councillor from 1995 to 1999 and Chairman of Finance from 1995 to 1997, when he became MP for South Thanet.
He was a member of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Select Committee and its Transport Sub-Committee from 1999 to 2001, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister for the Armed Forces from 2001 to 2003 and Liaison MP for the Netherlands from 2001 to 2003. He has also been Chair of the All Party Autism Group (1999-2003) and All Party British Dutch Group (2001-2003).

He was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health (Minister for Community) from 2003 to 2005 and led the publication of the National Service Framework for Children, The National Service Framework for Long Term Conditions and the Green Paper on Adult Social Care. Since 2005 he has been the Minister of State for Transport at the Department for Transport and his portfolio includes, roads and shipping. He is currently the Vice Chair of the Labour Party with particular responsibility of campaiging in the South East.

In his spare time he is modernising the old house that is his family home and is a keen football supporter. He was a coach with Ramsgate Youth FC from 1995 to 2000.