David Rutley


David Henry Rutley is a Conservative politician who has served as Member of Parliament for Macclesfield since 2010.

Early life and career

David Henry Rutley was born in Gravesham, Kent in March 1961. He was educated at the comprehensive Priory School, Lewes before going on to study at the London School of Economics and Harvard Business School. He spent most of his career in business and worked as a senior executive in major companies including Asda, PepsiCo International, Halifax General Insurance and Barclays.
A one time advisor to cabinet minister William Waldegrave in the early 1990s, Rutley worked as a Special Adviser from 1994 to 1996 in John Major's Conservative government at the Treasury, Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. During this time, Rutley helped shape the Budget and initiate the first ever White Paper for rural England. He stood unsuccessfully as a Conservative parliamentary candidate for St Albans at the 1997 general election.

Parliamentary career

Rutley was elected to Parliament at the 2010 general election for the Conservative-held seat of Macclesfield. After becoming an MP in May 2010, he was elected to the Treasury Select Committee and served on the Committee until his appointment in November 2010 as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Damian Green, the Minister for Immigration. When Green left office in the 2014 reshuffle, Rutley became PPS to David Lidington MP in the Foreign Office. He is also the Co-Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Mountaineering and the Vice Chair of the APPG on National Parks, as well as being a member of several other APPGs, including those on: China, Pharmaceuticals and Small Business.
Rutley was opposed to Brexit prior to the 2016 EU membership referendum.
From September 2018 to June 2019, Rutley was appointed a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in addition to his role as a whip. This followed an interim appointment as Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the same department from 22 May 2018, during Thérèse Coffey's recovery from illness.

Personal life

Rutley and his, wife, Rachel, are the parents of four children: two boys and two girls. Rutley is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Rutley served as an LDS Church missionary in the North of England from 1979 to 1981.
Outside politics, he is a keen mountaineer and has climbed in mountain ranges throughout the world including the K2 in Pakistan, he also enjoys fishing, and ornithology. Although not a player, he is the honorary vice-president of the Ash Tree Cricket Club, Prestbury, which is in his constituency.