Neil Parish MP
Neil Parish was elected Member of Parliament for Tiverton and Honiton on 6th May 2010. He is a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.

Previously Neil was elected as a Member of the European Parliament for the South West in June 1999 so he brings valued insight of EU legislation to the APGAW. In the European Parliament, Neil was the Chairman of the agriculture and rural development committee and he sat on the fisheries committee. During his time as Chairman he was reportedly described as a 'Rottweiler' by David Miliband, the then Secretary of State for Defra, for his dogged persistence. He was instrumental in setting up the year long European Parliament's public Inquiry into the Foot and Mouth Outbreak and he was also a member of the European Parliament's inquiry into the collapse of Equitable Life. Local Government has also featured strongly in Neil's political career and he has served as Parish, District and County Councillor in Somerset.

Neil has led a number of campaigns on animal welfare including those against cruel bear bile farming in China, live animal exports to the Middle East, and the import of cat and dog fur. He has also campaigned for the law to be tightened to prevent dolphins being caught up in fishing nets around the south west coast.

Before entering politics, Neil managed the family farm in Somerset.