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David was born in 1955 and went to Pinewood Primary School in Meir (now the new Crescent Primary School), Longton High School then the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College. David studied Law at the University of Bristol, receiving an LLB.

David then became a local solicitor from 1977-79 in Hanley then in Stafford from 1979-97. 

Whilst at Stafford he took on a role on the Stafford Borough Council from 1987-97. He was previously a parish councillor in Checkley from 1983-87. In Stafford, David has been a school governor at Flash Ley Primary and Rising Brook High Schools. He is currently a school governor at Silkmore Primary School.

After working as a well known solicitor for 20 years in Stafford, David won election to Parliament as Labour MP for Stafford constituency in 1997. David's win was a massive success as it had always been a Conservative seat previously (except for the Parliament after the end of the Second World War when Stephen Swingler had won for Labour). David's Tory opponent in 1997 was none other than the current Conservative leader, David Cameron (so perhaps Gordon should take some tips from David!).

David now gives all his time working for his constituents.

In Parliament:

• David chairs the "Fair Funding F40" group of the 40 lowest funded schools areas in England, campaigning for fairer funding for our local schools;
• He was a member of the Treasury Select Committee from 1997 to 2001;
• David had the job of bringing parliament into the 21st century in his position on the Modernisation Committee from 2001 - 2005;
• He was an unpaid Ministerial aide in the Environment team, but resigned in 2003 when he voted against the Iraq War;
• David became PPS to Elliot Morley, Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in November 2005, and in 2006 PPS to David Miliband, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
• David was PPS to Rosie Winterton who was minister of state for Transport, but has moved since October 2008 to be a minister in the Work and pensions department. 
• In 2009 David became a junior minister with the Department of Energy and Climate Change. His areas of resonsibility include:  Fuel Poverty Strategy, including delivery and oversight of Warm Front programme; Promoting interests of energy consumers; Coal liabilities including coal health payments; Emergency preparedness in power sector; Energy innovation and emerging technologies; Skills in energy and low carbon sector
• David has been Chair and an officer of several All-Party Groups, including Environment and Conservation & Wildlife. He recently agreed to chair a new All-Party Group formed to highlight the role of science and technology in British agriculture. He is particularly proud to chair the Associate Parliamentary Group for Looked after Children & Care leavers.

David is happily married with 2 children and continues to work as an advocate for the people of Stafford.