Gavin Alexander Williamson (born 25 June 1976) is an English Conservative Party

Conservative Party (UK)

The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...

 politician. He was elected at the 2010 general election as Member of Parliament

Member of Parliament

A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...

 (MP) for South Staffordshire. Williamson is currently a ministerial aide at the Northern Ireland Office.

Early life and family

Williamson originally hails from Scarborough, North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...

. Williamson was educated at the Raincliffe School

Raincliffe School

Raincliffe School is a 'business and enterprise college' and comprehensive secondary school in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England.In September 2009, the school entered into a 'federation' with nearby Graham School....

 and the Scarborough Sixth Form College

Scarborough Sixth Form College

Scarborough Sixth Form College is located on the outskirts of Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England.-Background:The Sixth Form college offers a variety of study courses to around 1,000 mostly 16–19 year olds. Courses range from level 2 to level 3...

 before attending the University of Bradford

University of Bradford

The University of Bradford is a British university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The University received its Royal Charter in 1966, making it the 40th University to be created in Britain, but its origins date back to the early 1800s...

 where he obtained a BSc degree in social sciences. He is married to Joanne who was a primary school teacher before they had children; they have two daughters Annabel and Grace.

Career

Williamson was elected a County Councillor in 2001, for the Seamer

Seamer, Scarborough

Seamer is a village and civil parish in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England.According to the 2001 UK census, Seamer parish had a population of 3,774....

 division. Williamson then moved to Derbyshire.

Williamson was the penultimate national chairman of Conservative Students before it was abolished in 1998 and the separate youth wings of the party were united as Conservative Future

Conservative Future

Conservative Future, abbreviated to CF, is the youth movement of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom for members aged up to 30 years old.Founded in 1998, Conservative Future is the largest political organisation on British campuses...

. In 2005

United Kingdom general election, 2005

The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....

, he stood as a Conservative candidate in Blackpool North & Fleetwood, but failed to gain the seat from Labour.

Williamson has been Deputy Chairman of Staffordshire Area Conservatives, Chairman of Stoke on Trent Conservative Association and Vice Chairman of Derbyshire Dales Conservative Association.

In October 2011, Williamson was appointed parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Hugo Swire MP, Minister of State for Northern Ireland.

Gavin is co-owner of a pottery in Staffordshire and Managing Director of an architectural and design company.