Ben Bradshaw

Ben Bradshaw has been MP for Exeter since winning the seat in the 1997 general election. Before entering Parliament, Ben worked as a newspaper and radio journalist, starting his career in 1984 with Exeter's local paper the Express & Echo. After a stint at a local newspaper in Norwich, Ben moved into radio journalism with a posting at BBC Radio Devon.

A highlight of Ben’s journalism career came in 1989 when he reported from Berlin on the fall of the Berlin Wall for BBC Radio.
 
After one Parliament on the back benches Ben was made a Minister in the Foreign Office in 2001. He then held posts as Deputy Leader of the Commons and Environment Minister before joining the Health team in 2007. Between June 2009 and May 2010, Ben was Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, becoming the first ever cabinet member to be in a civil partnership. He now very proudly speaks for Exeter in Parliament from the backbenches
 
His principal hobbies include hiking in Devon and Cornwall, going to the theatre, and spending time with his godchildren. Ben and his partner Neal have lived together for 12 years in Exeter and London, they celebrated their Civil Partnership in 2006.