JOHN Maples is married to Jane and they have two children, Tom and Rose.

They live in Brailes, Shipston-on-Stour.

He qualified as a barrister and practised from 1965-6 before going abroad to gain international business and professional experience.

He returned to this country in 1978 and worked as a business consultant before entering Parliament.

From 1980-83 he was a member of Kensington-Chelsea-Westminster South Community Health Council.

He was the Conservative candidate in a GLC by-election in Vauxhall in 1980 and for Westminster City Council in 1982.

He was selected as prospective Parliamentary candidate for Lewisham West in 1982 and elected to Parliament in June 1983.

He has also been Parliamentary Private Secretary to Norman Lamont MP, Economic Secretary at HM Treasury, deputy chairman of the party, Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Shadow Foreign Secretary.

Mr Maples said: "It has been a great honour to be the MP for Stratford-on-Avon.

"If re-elected, I will continue to fight for local services and businesses as well as doing all I can to help individuals with their problems."

His local campaigns have included planning, farming, Studley bypass, flood defences, village post offices and many others.