Andrew Turner was elected MP for the Isle of Wight on 7th June, 2001, having kept the promise he made at the 1997 General Election when he said, "I love the Island. It's a wonderful place to live.  If I am not elected I shall not simply up sticks and look elsewhere, but stay and fight again."   In 2005 Andrew was re-elected with a much enlarged majority of almost 13,000.  He was delighted and very proud of the confidence that so many Islanders placed in him and pledged to carry on representing the Island and all Islanders to the very best of his ability.

In December 2006 Andrew suffered a stroke, from which he has recovered well and he is now back at work.  He views this otherwise difficult experience as an opportunity to understand what many of his constituents and their families have faced.  He says  'It is often said that MPs are out of touch with how other people live.  I know that can sometimes be true, although I have always done my best to keep in touch with my constituents.  Since my stroke it has really been brought home to me how many people suffer strokes and similar illnesses and how life-changing they can be.  It is not something I would have wished for but it has given me first hand insight into an issue that otherwise I could only have tried to understand.  I hope this will make me a better representative for people who have been through similar experiences'. 

Andrew lists his interests as reading, walking, old movies and avoiding gardening!

Working for you on the Island
Andrew has met thousands of Island residents at their homes and places of work and at all manner of social events. As your Member of Parliament he stays in close touch.  Most Saturday mornings sees him out and about knocking on doors to find out the views and concerns of local people,  he usually finishes up at a local pub or hall where you can come along and meet him - check in the County Press Village Talk pages to find out where he is or call his office on 530808.  However, in the constituency with the largest electorate in the country he cannot possibly meet everyone so you are welcome to contact him.  

Working for the Island at Westminster
Andrew's key objective is to raise the Island's profile in Westminster and Whitehall. To this end he has asked literally hundreds of questions relating to the Island's needs, taken part in dozens of debates, and been fortunate enough to win the ballot for debates on Island issues such as care homes, health services, and how an Island abattoir would save animals long journeys to slaughter. 

Andrew's Experience
Andrew took with him to Westminster considerable experience of government, both local and national, and of the two public services which are valued most by Islanders: health and education.  He set up and from 1988 to 1997 ran the Grant-Maintained Schools Foundation, working tirelessly to give new opportunities through self-government to a thousand schools serving over a quarter of the country's secondary pupils.  As an education consultant his clients ranged from the Institute of Economic Affairs to the Girls' Day School Trust (which runs Portsmouth High School) and from the US-based Edison Schools to the London Borough of Southwark. Andrew remains passionate to ensure that parents enjoy a wider choice of school for their children, offering a higher standard of education.
 
Andrew has worked at the heart of Government in Westminster and Whitehall, where he was Special Advisor at the Department of Health and Social Security, working with Sir Norman Fowler, Michael Portillo and John Major.