Stride, who first entered parliament in May 2010, became the parliamentary private secretary to skills minister John Hayes in February 2012, following him subsequently moving to the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

The MP, who comes from Portsmouth, studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University, where he was president of the Oxford Union. He has also served as a senior parliamentary advisor to the Cabinet Office and worked in the government whips office. 

Stride set up his own business in 1987 specialising in trade exhibitions, conferences and publishing. He expanded this venture into the US working there before selling the US company.

On his website, Stride says: ‘That it is valuable for politicians to have had career experience outside of politics before entering Parliament - he became an MP at 48 - and his background in entrepreneurship has made him a valuable contributor in Westminster on business issues.’