Mel Stride

Mel Stride was born in Ealing. Stride’s parents dropped out of school aged 14 and 15, and in the light of their experience Stridge formulated a firm belief in the “importance of a good education and the role of government facilitating it”. He went on to serve as president of the Oxford Union whilst at university. After graduating, Stride started his own business Venture Marketing Group in 1987, specialising in trade exhibitions, conferences and publishing. He eventually sold its US subsidiary after expanding the business to the USA, although he and his wife still jointly control the company. Stride became the first MP to be elected to the new constituency of Central Devon in 2010, with over 54 per cent of the vote. In parliament, Stride has worked for John Hayes as a PPS, as Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, Comptroller of the Household, FInancial Secretary to the Treasury, and even as leader of the House of Commons for a couple of months in 2019. In July 2019, the chair of the treasury select committee was vacated, and Stride filled this influential position in the autumn of 2019 after a couple of interim appointments.