Mike is the MP for Portsmouth South.

He has had a long career as a prominent councillor including being leader of Hampshire County Council - at the time the largest local authority in the UK.

After standing for the SDP in the 1983 General Election for Portsmouth South, he won the seat at a by-election in 1984. After two narrow losses by 205 and 242, in 1987 and 1992, he regained the seat in 1997. And he increased his majority in 2001. Despite a swing away from the Lib Dems to the Conservatives in the South in 2005, he comfortably held his seat in the 2005 General Election.

As an MP Mike has a reputation as an active campaigner for animal rights - supporting the banning of hunting with dogs and co-sponsoring a bill to ban the live export of animals. He is a member of the Defence Select Committee and has been working to safeguard Portsmouth's defence interests.