About

Philip is local to Ludlow. He lives near Ludlow, which he has regarded as his home town all his life. He is married to Domenica who is very supportive of his efforts to serve the local community. Their two daughters were and two sons are at school in the Ludlow constituency, where he is also a school Governor. He was brought up on the family farm near Ludlow, which he now runs.

Philip brings a broad range of experience to his role as MP for the Ludlow constituency. He believes politicians can contribute most to their communities if they have experience of the world beyond politics. He has had a twenty year business career before becoming actively involved in politics. He has experience of business both big and small: having worked for investment banks in London, New York and Hong Kong and helped start a bookshop business, Ottakar's, from scratch.

Philip Dunne with his wife, Domenica, and family

Philip with his wife Domenica and their four children

He was formerly chairman of Ottakar's plc, since it was quoted on the London Stock Exchange in 1998 until acquired in 2006 by HMV plc, when it employed more than 2,500 people in shops all over the country. He has also been a director of other businesses and charities, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation which is one of the leading providers of funding for research to find a cure for diabetes.

He is also an experienced political campaigner with a track record of defeating LibDems. Six months after the 2001 General Election he won a by-election in Ludlow's Castle Ward to become the first Conservative Councillor on South Shropshire District Council. In the full District Council election in 2003 he increased his majority tenfold. Philip stepped down from South Shropshire District Council at the May 2007 elections, at which the Conservatives took control for the first time since the Council was formed in 1973.

Philip in Ottakar's

He takes an active part in local life through his work as a councillor, and through support of the farming community, country sports, and other local charities. He enjoys his family, keeping busy, and skiing.

Philip's Experience

Philip read Politics, Philosophy & Economics at Keble College, Oxford University, graduating in 1980. He spent eight years at the then leading British merchant bank S.G.Warburg, working in London and New York advising major British and foreign companies on their strategic development. He then worked for two years for James Gulliver Associates, before becoming a partner of Phoenix Securities, a leading adviser to the financial services sector, for whom he worked for 10 years in London and Hong Kong, during which time it was bought by Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, a US investment bank of which he became a Managing Director (one of many).

Philip and Domenica September 2005

He has always had a broad range of interests. In addition to being a founder director of Ottakar's the bookshop business, he has had responsibility for the family farm since 1987. He is also non-executive chairman of a quoted Venture Capital Trust, Baronsmead 4 VCT plc, which reflects his enthusiasm for encouraging entrepreneurship in the small business sector. He is a non-executive director of Ruffer LLP, a leading independent private client fund management company, which provides invaluable insight to issues confronting the financial services industry and all those who rely upon it for their future financial well-being, especially pensioners.

Philip is a lifelong mainstream Conservative. He was a Conservative appointed governor of a primary school in the 1990s and campaigned for Conservative candidates at elections since 1974. During the run-up to the 2001 General Election he was based in Conservative Central Office helping to coordinate the campaign for target seats in Greater London - where the Conservatives made net gains.

Philip Dunne and family

In May 2003 he became Conservative Group Leader on South Shropshire District Council, following the strong net gains of nine seats by the Conservatives under his leadership. He has been a member of the Small Business Network, Conservative Rural Action Group and was a Council member of Vote No. He is also a member of the National Trust, the Country Land and Business Association, Countryside Alliance, Game Conservancy Trust, Ludlow Civic Society, Ludlow Rail Users, National Farmers Union, Royal British Legion and the Church Stretton and Kington Golf Clubs.