Derek Twigg



John Derek Twigg (born 9 July 1959) has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Halton in Cheshire since 1997 general election.

Parliamentary career
At the general election in 1997, Twigg succeeded Gordon Oakes as Member of Parliament for the constituency of Halton. He was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Helen Liddell, and then to Stephen Byers, before serving as a Government Whip from June 2002 until 2004.

In December 2004, Twigg was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Education and Skills. After the general election of May 2005, he became Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Transport.

In September 2006, Twigg was appointed Under-Secretary of State and Minister for Veterans at the Ministry of Defence. In October 2008, he was replaced in this position and, declining the offer of another ministerial post, returned to the back benches.