About Nick

MP for North Devon since 1992. Minister of State for the Armed Forces.

BORN: 3 August 1961 at Chandler's Ford, Hampshire.

EDUCATION: Queen's College, Taunton and Middlesex University (BA Hons 1983, Hon Doctorate 2000).

FAMILY: Married to Kate (Fox), one daughter Olivia (2002) and one son Freddie (2004). Son of Frederick Harvey (civil servant) and the late Christine Harvey (teacher). Two sisters.

CAREER: Communications and marketing 1983-92, mainly with City consultants Dewe Rogerson (1986-91).

POLITICAL CAREER:

• Elected for North Devon 1992, contested Enfield Southgate 1987.

• Minister of State for the Armed Forces since May 2010.

• Lib Dem Shadow Defence Secretary, 2006-2010.

• Member/Spokesman, House of Commons Commission since June 2005.

• Lib Dem Shadow Culture, Media & Sports Secretary 2001-03.

• Lib Dem Shadow Health Secretary 1999-2001.

• Lib Dem Shadow Trade & Industry Secretary 1994-97.

• Lib Dem Shadow Transport Secretary 1992-94.

• Lib Dem Chairman of Campaigns & Communications 1994-99.

President, Middlesex University Students' Union 1981-82. As President-elect, he took the outgoing Trotskyist executive to the High Court in May 1981, to prevent an illegal donation of union funds to Irish terrorists.

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY ABOUT NICK:

• "Other members of the Lib Dem front bench including Nick Harvey stand up well in comparison with their main party rivals" - Sunday Times editorial, 18 April 2010

• "The Liberal Democrats probably have the best defence policy at the moment. Nick Harvey is one of the most knowledgable MPs on defence subjects outside of government and always has something to say" (Defence Management Journal)

• "Shrewdly sensible and independent-minded young veteran" (political commentator Andrew Roth)

• "Cerebral and sane" (Jonathan Freedland, The Guardian)

• "Clever, inscrutable and deep" (Matthew Parris, The Times)

• "Self-deprecating but highly popular" (George Parker, Financial Times)

• "A bright strategist and debater" (Marie Woolf, The Independent)

• "A shrewd political tactician, privately he is a witty and lively man" (Robert Shrimsley, Daily Telegraph)

• "Mild-mannered, genial and hard-working" (The Times)

• "A polished speaker, and charming in private, Mr Harvey is an unflamboyant hard worker." (James Lansdale)

EUROPE: he is on the more sceptical wing of the Lib Dems, having called the European Union "a rich man's club" - but has supported expanding its membership, and called for referendums on the Maastricht Treaty and Britain joining the Euro.

MEMBERSHIPS: Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and Amnesty International