David Simmonds

A graduate of Durham University, David Simmonds’ professional background is in financial services, where he worked for several high street banks after qualifying with the Chartered Institute of Insurers in 1997. Elected a councillor for the London Borough of Hillingdon in 1998, he has served in hung and majority administrations as a committee chairman and Cabinet Member with responsibilities including planning, housing, social services, and education and children's services. He led work for the Local Government Association in a number of high-profile areas including children's services, education, immigration and Brexit, serving as Conservative Group Leader and Deputy Chairman of the organisation representing councils.

In Parliament he is a member of the Education Select Committee and the Finance Committee.

His previous service includes as Chairman of the National Employer's Organisation for Schoolteachers (NEOST) and of the European Federation of Education Employers (EFEE), as an active member of the Committee of the Regions and leader of the UK Conservative delegation there and at the Congress of the Council of Europe.

He is particularly well known for his work on refugee children and led the implementation of the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (VPRS) with then-Home Secretary Theresa May to resettle vulnerable refugees to areas of the UK volunteering to take them in.

He served as Deputy Chairman and previously Treasurer of the Conservative Councillors Association, and served as an associate non-executive director in his local NHS and as a magistrate in North-West London. He stepped down as Deputy Leader of Hillingdon Council and as Deputy Chairman of the LGA following his election to Parliament.

He was awarded a CBE in the 2015 Birthday Honours List.[2]