About Grant Shapps MP

Born in Watford, Hertfordshire in 1968, Grant was educated at Watford Grammar, before studying Business & Finance at Manchester in the late 1980s. In 1990, Grant founded his own printing company at the age of just 21.

Originally started as a small printing shop, PrintHouse Corporation grew into a major commercial design, print & web development company with clients throughout the UK and the rest of the world. Grant successfully established a team of fellow Directors who now run the business day-to-day, whilst he remains Chairman of the company.

Grant believes his business experience is helpful in improving the quality of people’s lives, particular since drive and determination are essential assets in public service.

Grant Shapps lives in Welwyn Hatfield with his wife, Belinda (married 1997), their four year old son, Hadley, and recent twin arrivals, Tabytha (girl) and Noa (boy), born at the QE2 on April 21st 2004.

Grant holds a Private Pilots Licence with a UK Instrument and Night flying ratings and enjoys flying as a pastime.

Grant's experience

Having previously fought the seat of Welwyn Hatfield in 2001, Grant became Welwyn Hatfield's MP on 5th May 2005 creating one of the most significant upsets of the general election by replacing government minister, Melanie Johnson on an 8.2% swing to the Conservatives.  Detailed results can be found here.

Grant puts his election win down to a locally focussed campaigned which tackled the issues of particular concern to Welwyn Hatfield people, including:

• The prospect of the closure of the night time children's A&E at the QE2.
  
  
• Difficulties caused by having a large and quickly expanding University in Hatfield, with insufficient on campus accommodation.
  
  
• Quality of life issues including the noisy A1M motorway which cuts through the heart of the constituency. Grant has campaigned for resurfacing in order to halve the sound level. 

Grant fought Welwyn Hatfield at the 2001 General Election. Running an energetic and locally focused campaign, Grant concentrated his efforts on ‘quality of life’ issues. He quickly became a highly visible local candidate, which produced an unexpectedly high swing to the Conservatives in this seat. He produced one of the best Conservative swings of the election, slashing Labour’s majority from 5,595 to just 1,196. He was reselected as the Parliamentary Spokesman for Welwyn Hatfield in June 2002.

His previous political experience was in the 1997 General Election where Grant challenged the Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes MP in his North Southwark & Bermondsey seat.

Grant was made Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party with responsibility for Campaigning following David Cameron's election as leader in December 2005.

You can find his personal website here: http://www.shapps.com