Nick Harvey was born on 3 August 1961 at Chandlers Ford, Hampshire.  He currently holds the position of Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Spokesman.  Prior to entering Parliament, he made a career in communications and marketing, working with City consultants Dewe Rogerson.  His first affiliation was to the Liberal Party in 1974. As President-elect of Middlesex University Students Union, he took the outgoing Trotskyist executive to the High Court in May 1981, to prevent an illegal donation of Union Funds.

After being elected he served as the party’s transport spokesman, 1992 to 1994, opposing rail privatisation and pressing for funds to be switched from road to public transport. From 1994-97 he was the party’s trade and industry spokesman, supporting competition in the gas industry and presenting new policy on small business, utilities regulation, executive pay and infrastructure investment. He was spokesman on the English Regions from 1997-99.

In Charles Kennedys first reshuffle of Lib Dem spokesmen, in October 1999, Nick Harvey returned to a front line Parliamentary role as Health spokesman, following a long and notably successful stint at Party HQ as Chairman of Campaigns and Communications. Following his re-election in 2001 he became the spokesman on Culture, Media and Sport. He stood down from this post in 2003.  Following Sir Menzies Campbell’s election as party leader in March 2006 Nick was appointed to his current position of Defence spokesman.