Michael Mates

Michael John Mates (born 9 June 1934) is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He is the MP for the constituency of East Hampshire. He has been a member of the Privy Council since February 2004. Michael Mates was educated at the Salisbury Cathedral School; Blundell's School in Tiverton, and King's College, Cambridge, where he was a choral scholar. Prior to his election to the House of Commons, he served for twenty years in the Br... more

Michael John Mates (born 9 June 1934) is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He is the MP for the constituency of East Hampshire. He has been a member of the Privy Council since February 2004. Michael Mates was educated at the Salisbury Cathedral School; Blundell's School in Tiverton, and King's College, Cambridge, where he was a choral scholar. Prior to his election to the House of Commons, he served for twenty years in the British Army leaving in 1974 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards. Michael Mates was first elected to Parliament in October 1974 general election for Petersfield in Hampshire, following the retirement of Joan Quennell. He has represented East Hampshire since 1983. From 1992 to 1993, Mates was Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office. He resigned after a scandal involving fugitive businessman Asil Nadir. He also served as the Chairman of the Defence (1987-1992) and Northern Ireland (2001-2005) select... less