Hughes, Simon (1951- )

British Liberal Democrat politician, deputy leader from 2003. He was party spokesperson on home affairs 1997-2003, health 1995-97, the environment 1983-88 and 1992-94, and education 1989-92. In 1983 Hughes became the youngest opposition MP when he won the Bermondsey by-election, and he has since held on to this inner-city former Labour stronghold in south London. He was a founding member of the Liberal Democrats in 1988, and in 2004 was the party's candidate to become mayor of London. An impassioned speaker, he has a particular interest in the environment and social justice.

Born in Cheshire, he was brought up in Wales and studied law at Cambridge University, where he also became president of the students union and became active in Liberal politics. After training and working at the European Commission, he was called to the Bar in 1974 and practised as a barrister from 1977 before becoming an MP. He was runner-up to Charles Kennedy, with 43% of the vote, in the party's 1999 leadership election.