David Pugh (Conservative politician)
Encyclopedia
David Pugh is a Conservative
politician and currently leader of the Isle of Wight Council
, residing in Shanklin
. He was first elected to the Isle of Wight Council at the local elections in May 2005
as a member for the Shanklin Central Ward and was re-elected in the June 2009 elections to the Shanklin South ward. He was appointed leader of the Isle of Wight Council in September 2007 following the resignation of former leader Cllr Andy Sutton. On assuming the role of Council leader he became the youngest local authority leader in the UK, and he remains the youngest member of the Isle of Wight Council. In 2009 he led the Island Conservatives into the local elections and won a majority of seats, enabling him to form a second term for his party at County Hall.
, growing up in Newport
, Lake
and Shanklin
. He was educated in the Island's school system at Westmont and Newport CE Primary Schools, Trinity Middle School (now Christ the King College
) and Sandown High School
. He then went on to study politics at the University of Aberystwyth, Wales
. completing two years of the three year course.
holding the position of Head of Youth with the responsibility for Conservative Future
. This was a post he held for 4 years between 2000 and 2004. During this time he represented the Westminster Foundation for Democracy on a number of visits to eastern European nations with developing democracies.
In 2007 following the resignation of Cllr Andy Sutton, Pugh was elected as Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, a post he remains in to this day. His appointment at the age of 27 made him the youngest local authority leader in the country.
In 2011, he was appointed as a Director of the newly formed Solent Local Enterprise Partnership.
, Pugh switched wards to contest the new Shanklin South seat, which due to boundary changes incorporated part of his previous seat of Shanklin Central. Despite unveiling plans to reform education on the island
which were seen as contentious, prior to the announcement of the results Pugh stated that he had been "Quietly confident securing a majority". When the final results were declared, some key players involved with the education reform plans had lost their seats, but Pugh managed to retain his with a comfortable majority. His party also won a majority of seats on the Isle of Wight Council.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician and currently leader of the Isle of Wight Council
Isle of Wight Council
The Isle of Wight Council is a local council. It is a unitary authority covering the Isle of Wight, South East England. It is currently made up of 40 seats, with the Conservatives as ruling party with 24 councillors at the latest local election in June 2009....
, residing in Shanklin
Shanklin
Shanklin is a popular seaside resort and civil parish on the Isle of Wight, England, located on the east coast's Sandown Bay. The sandy beach, its Old Village and a wooded ravine, Shanklin Chine, are its main attractions. The esplanade along the beach is occupied by hotels and restaurants for the...
. He was first elected to the Isle of Wight Council at the local elections in May 2005
Isle of Wight Council election, 2005
The 2005 Isle of Wight Council elections were held on the Isle of Wight, England, on 5 May 2005. The result led to a landslide Conservative victory gaining 22 councillors, leading the Isle of Wight to Conservative control from no overall control previously....
as a member for the Shanklin Central Ward and was re-elected in the June 2009 elections to the Shanklin South ward. He was appointed leader of the Isle of Wight Council in September 2007 following the resignation of former leader Cllr Andy Sutton. On assuming the role of Council leader he became the youngest local authority leader in the UK, and he remains the youngest member of the Isle of Wight Council. In 2009 he led the Island Conservatives into the local elections and won a majority of seats, enabling him to form a second term for his party at County Hall.
Early life
David Pugh was born on the Isle of WightIsle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, growing up in Newport
Newport, Isle of Wight
Newport is a civil parish and a county town of the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England. Newport has a population of 23,957 according to the 2001 census...
, Lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
and Shanklin
Shanklin
Shanklin is a popular seaside resort and civil parish on the Isle of Wight, England, located on the east coast's Sandown Bay. The sandy beach, its Old Village and a wooded ravine, Shanklin Chine, are its main attractions. The esplanade along the beach is occupied by hotels and restaurants for the...
. He was educated in the Island's school system at Westmont and Newport CE Primary Schools, Trinity Middle School (now Christ the King College
Christ the King College, Isle of Wight
Christ the King College, is a joint Church of England and Catholic college located in Newport on the Isle of Wight. It was created in September 2008 by amalgamating two older schools, Archbishop King Middle School and Trinity Middle School. As such, the school is on two separate campuses, both...
) and Sandown High School
Sandown High School
Sandown Bay Academy is a academy status secondary school, including sixth form, located in Sandown on the Isle of Wight, England, previously Sandown High School.-History:...
. He then went on to study politics at the University of Aberystwyth, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. completing two years of the three year course.
Political career
Prior to work as a local councillor for the Isle of Wight, David Pugh worked at the Conservative Central Office in WestminsterWestminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
holding the position of Head of Youth with the responsibility for Conservative Future
Conservative Future
Conservative Future, abbreviated to CF, is the youth movement of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom for members aged up to 30 years old.Founded in 1998, Conservative Future is the largest political organisation on British campuses...
. This was a post he held for 4 years between 2000 and 2004. During this time he represented the Westminster Foundation for Democracy on a number of visits to eastern European nations with developing democracies.
Isle of Wight Council
In 2004 Pugh returned to live on the island and became a member of Shanklin Town Council. In May 2005 he was elected to the Isle of Wight Council as a Conservative member for the Shanklin Central ward. Between May 2005 and April 2007 Pugh served as Cabinet Secretary. After April 2007 he was appointed as Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure and Communications.In 2007 following the resignation of Cllr Andy Sutton, Pugh was elected as Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, a post he remains in to this day. His appointment at the age of 27 made him the youngest local authority leader in the country.
External and national work
In 2010 he was appointed a member of the Ministerial Advisory Group on the role of local authorities in education and children's services, supporting the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove. He was also appointed as a member of the Local Government Association's Children & Young People Programme Board.In 2011, he was appointed as a Director of the newly formed Solent Local Enterprise Partnership.
2005
2009
For the Isle of Wight Council election in 2009Isle of Wight Council election, 2009
The 2009 Isle of Wight Council elections were held on Thursday 4 June 2009.After a review by the boundary commission, the number of seats on the council was reduced from 48 single-member constituencies, to a 40 member council, consisting of 38 single member constituencies, and one double-member...
, Pugh switched wards to contest the new Shanklin South seat, which due to boundary changes incorporated part of his previous seat of Shanklin Central. Despite unveiling plans to reform education on the island
Education reforms on the Isle of Wight
Education reforms on the Isle of Wight is part of a process to change the Isle of Wight's education from a three-tier system to a two-tier system. The debate as to how this should occur was first started in 2004, lasting until 2008. Three options were put forward at the start of 2008 as to what...
which were seen as contentious, prior to the announcement of the results Pugh stated that he had been "Quietly confident securing a majority". When the final results were declared, some key players involved with the education reform plans had lost their seats, but Pugh managed to retain his with a comfortable majority. His party also won a majority of seats on the Isle of Wight Council.