David was born in 1958 and grew up in Walsall, near Wolverhampton. He went to a local state school, Queen Mary's, before moving to Cambridge from where he graduated with a first class honours degree in law from Clare College. He then took up postgraduate studies, gaining masters degrees in Law and Sociology from Yale University. He taught law and economics at Cambridge University and is a Fellow of Clare College.



David moved to Cambridge in 1977. He was first elected City Councillor for Castle ward in 1987. He became leader of the Lib Dem group in 1990 and leader of the City Council in 2000. He remained in office until 2004 and became Cambridge's MP in 2005. David was a member of the party's Federal Policy Committee from 1989 to 2000. He is a respected expert on economics and law, and has played a leading role in formulating Lib Dem economic policy. He was the Energy Spokesman for the Lib Dems in Parliament and Shadow Justice Minister. Recently he was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Justice.





David is a member of Friends of the Earth and a supporter of Amnesty International. When he has time, he enjoys watching football and opera, and is an avid reader of books on philosophy and international politics. He has written dozens of journal articles and book chapters, as well as his own publications. In 1995 he won the prestigious Butterworth's Prize for best new legal textbook. David is married and has two children.