Sir Peter Bottomley was first elected as the MP for Worthing West in 1997, being reelected in 2019 with a majority of 14,823. He previously represented Eltham in South East London in Parliament between 1975 and 1997.
Sir Peter Bottomley is currently the Father of the House of Commons (the longest serving MP).
Apt for the Father of the House, the constituency of Worthing West has one of the highest proportion of retired voters in the UK, at over a quarter of the electorate. Located on the Sussex coast between Shoreham and Littlehampton, Worthing West contains the bulk of the town of Worthing alongside Durrington and Goring by Sea. Although much of the Sussex coast including the neighbouring Worthing seat has gradually been trending towards Labour in recent years, West Worthing remains safe Conservative territory.
Bottomley served in the government as Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Under Secretary for Transport between 1986 and 1990.
Born in 1944, Peter Bottomley was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge. He previously worked as a lorry driver and in commerce and industry, including in the steel and engineering sectors. He is qualified in personnel management.
He is married to the former Conservative Health Secretary from the Major government, Virginia Bottomley.
Considered to be on the moderate wing of the Conservative Party, he backed Jeremy Hunt in the 2019 Conservative Party leadership election.
He opposed Brexit in the 2016 EU referendum, and unlike most Conservative MPs, supports the idea of lowering the voting age to 16.
He witnessed first hand the tragedy at Brussels Heysel stadium in 1985.
Peter Bottomley is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Arts and Heritage; Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Business Owners; Citizens Rights; Democracy and Human Rights in the Gulf; Global Security and Non Proliferation; Kosovo; Korea; Adult Education; Western Sahara; Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood; Leasehold and Commonhold Reform; and Religion in the Media.
He is Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the BBC; Dark Skies; Disability; Equitable Life Policyholders; Flags and Heraldry; Foster Care Work; Gypsies, Travellers and Roma; Holocaust Memorial; Liver health; Longevity; Media; Music; Olympic and Paralympic games; Park Homes;
Email: bottomleyp@parliament.uk
Personal Website: http://www.sirpeterbottomley.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pbottomleymp
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sir-Peter-Bottomley/
