A man to watch
He is black, he is a Conservative Member of Parliament, and he sits on his party’s Front Bench – but you’ve never heard of him. He is Adam Afriyie – Conservative MP for Windsor and Shadow Minister for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
I first came across him during the last General Election campaign when I was visiting Ascot and picked up one of his election leaflets. I was surprised – but impressed – that the Conservatives were running a black candidate in such a seat. Equally I was surprised that then and now he receives so little national publicity. But he does not seem to seek such exposure and he clearly does not trade on his blackness to win a profile.
I first blogged about him two and a half years ago here. Why do I mention him again now? Two reasons.
First, in the current scandal on MPs’ expenses, he is revealed as one of the ten lowest claimers of expenses out of the 646 members of the House of Commons. OK, so he’s rich and doesn’t need to claim lots of expenses. But that hasn’t prevented many of his Parliamentary colleagues from exhibiting greed. The man shows good judgement.
Second, we are no more than a year away from a General Election which the Conservatives are clear favourites to win. If David Cameron does become Prime Minister, watch out as Adam Afriyie makes a rapid rise up the ministerial ladder.
And remember where you first heard of him.