David Simmonds

David Timothy Simmonds (born 1976) is a British Conservative politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner from 2019. Simmonds was formerly a councillor on Hillingdon London Borough Council, having served from 1998 to 2022.

Early life and career
David Simmonds was born in 1976, the son of Rory and Veronica Simmonds. He attended Cardinal Newman RC School in Pontypridd, before going to Grey College, University of Durham, where he gained a BA. Simmonds gained a Postgraduate Certificate at Birkbeck College, University of London, and a Financial Planning Certificate from the Chartered Institute of Insurers (CII). His professional background is in financial services, where he worked for several high street banks after qualifying with the CII in 1997. He was a non-executive director at NHS Hillingdon.

Political career
Simmonds was elected as a Conservative councillor for the London Borough of Hillingdon in 1998, winning his seat in Cowley from the Labour Party. From 2002 to 2022, he represented the borough's Ickenham ward.

He has served in hung and majority administrations as a committee chairman and Cabinet Member, with responsibilities including planning, housing, social services, education and children's services. He led work for the Local Government Association in a number of high-profile areas including children's services, education, immigration and Brexit, serving as Conservative Group Leader and Deputy Chairman of the organisation representing councils. Simmonds was also Chairman of the Children and Young People Board from 2011 to 2015.

His previous public service includes as Chairman of the National Employer's Organisation for Schoolteachers (NEOST) and of the European Federation of Education Employers (EFEE), as an active member of the Committee of the Regions and leader of the UK Conservative delegation there, and at the Congress of the Council of Europe.

He is known for his work on refugee children and led the implementation of the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (VPRS) with then-Home Secretary Theresa May to resettle vulnerable refugees to areas of the UK volunteering to take them in.

He served as Deputy Chairman and previously Treasurer of the Conservative Councillors Association, and served as an associate non-executive director in his local NHS and as a magistrate in North-West London. He stepped down as Deputy Leader of Hillingdon Council and as Deputy Chairman of the LGA following his election to Parliament. He was Deputy Leader of the council from 2002 to 2020, and Deputy Chairman of the LGA from 2015 to 2020.

Parliamentary career
At the 2001 general election, Simmonds stood as the Conservative candidate in Caerphilly, coming third with 11.4% of the vote behind the Labour candidate Wayne David and the Plaid Cymru candidate Lindsay Whittle.

At the 2005 general election, he stood in Erewash, coming second with 30.4% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP Liz Blackman.

Simmonds was elected to Parliament as MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner at the 2019 general election with 55.6% of the vote and a majority of 16,394. The constituency includes the Ickenham ward he represented as a councillor. Simmonds is a member of the Education Select Committee and the Finance Committee.

Simmonds is the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Migration, the APPG on Housing and Planning, the APPG for Social Workers, and the APPG for Airport Communities.

On 7 July 2022, Simmonds was elected to the executive of the 1922 committee of backbench Conservative MPs.

In February 2023, Simmonds was re-selected as the Conservative candidate for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner at the 2024 general election.

Honours
He was awarded a CBE in the 2015 Birthday Honours list.

Personal life
Simmonds is married to an NHS doctor, and has two children. He lists his recreations as travelling in Europe, wine and modern British prints.