Oliver Dowden was elected as the Conservative MP for Hertsmere in 2015, being reelected in 2019 with a majority of 21,313.
The constituency of Hertsmere is found in the south of Hertfordshire on the border with Greater London. Containing a large number of London bound commuters, this seat contains the towns of Radlett, Borehamwood, and Potters Bar. A long standing safe Conservative seat, it was formerly represented in Parliament by the Conservative Cabinet Minister, Cecil Parkinson. At close to a sixth of the electorate, Hertsmere is said to have the third highest proportion of Jewish voters in the country. Elstree Film studios are located in this constituency.
Dowden was appointed as Cabinet Office Minister by his close friend Rishi Sunak in October 2022. He was subsequently and additionally appointed deputy prime minister following the resignation of Dominic Raab in April 2023.
Dowden had previously resigned as Chairman of the Conservative Party in the spring of 2021. His was the first of a series of ministerial resignations that eventually led to the downfall of Boris Johnson in the summer of that year.
Between 2020 and 2021, Dowden was the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport.
Prior to this he served in the government between 2018 and 2020 variously as Minister for the Cabinet Office, Payment Master General and Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office.
Before being elected to Parliament, Dowden served as a Special Advisor in Downing Street between 2010 and 2015, and Deputy Chief of Staff, to David Cameron as Prime Minister.
Dowden supported Remain in the 2016 EU referendum. He backed Boris Johnson in the 2019 Conservative Party leadership election.
In being selected as the conservative candidate for Hertsmere, Oliver Dowden defeated Rishi Sunak for the party nomination.
Born in Hertfordshire in 1978, Oliver Dowden studied law at Cambridge University. He worked as a teacher in Japan, as a lawyer in the City, and as a part of the Conservative Research Department. He also worked for the public relations firm, Hill and Knowlton.
He is married with two children.
Email: oliver@oliverdowden.com
Personal Website: http://www.oliverdowden.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/oliverdowdenhertsmere/info
