Cameron, David (1966- )

UK Conservative Party politician, party leader from 2006. A skilled communicator, he rose rapidly within the Conservative Party to become deputy chair and head of policy coordination from 2003. In his campaign for leadership he called on the party, after three successive general election defeats, to modernize around what he termed ‘compassionate conservatism’, and in December 2005 the party's members elected him leader by a large majority.

He played an important role in developing the party's manifesto for the May 2005 general election, after which he was appointed shadow education secretary. Despite his political inexperience, he contested for the leadership of the party, after Michael Howard announced he would step down. Initially not the frontrunner, his candidacy was ignited by an impassioned speech at the October 2005 party conference.

With his relaxed and pragmatic image, and a similar privileged upbringing, Cameron became viewed as the ‘Conservative's Blair’. In 2006, he published a statement of aims and values, setting out a new Conservative concern for the environment, eradicating poverty, and putting economic stability before tax reductions.

Born in London, he was educated at Eton College and Oxford University, studying politics, philosophy, and economics. After university he worked at the Conservative Research Department 1988-92 and as a special adviser at the Treasury and Home Office 1992-94, before joining the media company Carlton Communication plc, where he was director of corporate affairs. He was elected member of Parliament for Witney (Oxfordshire) in June 2001.