Mike Penning has already been adopted as our candidate for the General Election.

Mike Penning was first elected to serve the people of Hemel Hempstead in May 2005. In July 2016 he was appointed as Minister of State for the Armed Forces at the Ministry of Defence.

He has previously served as a Minister in the Department for Transport, Northern Ireland Office and the Department for Work and Pensions, Home Office and Ministry of Justice.  Mike was appointed a Privy Counsellor in March 2014.

Mike was born in North London in 1957 and educated in Essex at Appleton and King Edmund Comprehensive Schools. He is married to Angela and has two daughters Adele and Abby. They live in the Old Town in Hemel.

Mike joined the Army as a boy soldier and served with the Grenadier Guards in Northern Ireland, Kenya and Germany; he also undertook ceremonial duties in London including Trooping the Colour. On leaving the Army Mike served as a full time fireman in Essex for many years before going into the family business and later, after several career changes, into political journalism.

Mike has many interests outside of politics. Along with being a dedicated family man, he is passionate about sport, especially Rugby Union and Football.

Mike said:
"I am delighted to have been given the honour of standing again to represent the people of Hemel Hempstead, It has been a genuine pleasure to represent this great town and surrounding villages in Parliament for the past 12 years and I am looking forward to meeting people on the campaign trail!"