Biography

Patrick has lived in the Bedford area for over 40 years. Educated at Bedford Modern School, Birmingham University and Oxford Polytechnic, he is a qualified Town and Country Planner. He had been Bedford Town Centre Manager for seven years at the time of his election to Parliament in 1997.

During eight years as a Bedfordshire County Councillor representing Harpur Ward in Bedford, he served on the social services, education and police committees. Patrick stood for Parliament in North Bedfordshire in 1992, and in 1997 was elected Member of Parliament for Bedford & Kempston. He was re-elected in 2001 and 2005.

He is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Town Centre Management and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Public and Patient Involvement in Health, as well as Secretary of the Associate Parliamentary Health Group and a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee. He is also the Co Vice-Chair on the All Party Parliamentary Group for Chronic Pain.

Patrick is married to Claudia and has two step sons. Despite the demands of a busy life, he tries to find time to play squash and enjoy the therapeutic attractions of gardening.