David Pugh (Conservative politician)

David Pugh
David Pugh seen in Ventnor in 2011.
Born	(1980-04-17) 17 April 1980 (age 37) Isle of Wight
Nationality	British
Occupation	Cratus Communications
Known for	Former Leader of Isle of Wight Council

David Pugh (born 1980 in Newport) was a Conservative councillor and served as leader of the Isle of Wight Council between September 2007 and May 2013, making him the longest serving leader of the local authority since its inception in 1995. He was first elected to the Isle of Wight Council at the local elections in May 2005 as a member for the Shanklin Central Ward and was re-elected in the June 2009 elections to the Shanklin South ward. He was appointed leader of the Isle of Wight Council in September 2007 following the resignation of former leader Cllr Andy Sutton. On assuming the role of Council leader he became the youngest local authority leader in the UK and, until the 2013 local elections, he remained the youngest member of the Isle of Wight Council.

He lost his seat by 10 votes in the 2013 local elections after 2 other candidates withdrew, making the election a straight choice between Pugh and Independent, Richard Priest, and consequently ceased to be council leader.

Labour candidate for Shanklin South, Peter Coleman, said upon his withdrawal "Electors in the ward now have a clear alternative candidate (Richard Priest) to David Pugh, who has been a disastrous Leader of the County Council. A ground swell is taking place in Shanklin around a community based and respected local man [Richard Priest]. This is a difficult ward politically for Labour to win, and this decision has been taken to maximise the vote in opposition to the cuts in the public services to Shanklin taken by this Conservative Council."

Shortly after his failed re-election bid, Pugh resigned from Shanklin Town Council.

David Pugh was born on the Isle of Wight, growing up in Newport, Lake and Shanklin. He was educated in the Island's school system at Westmont and Newport CE Primary Schools, Trinity Middle School (now Christ the King College) and Sandown High School. He then went on to study politics at the University of Aberystwyth, Wales and failed to complete the final year of the 3-year course.

Prior to work as a local councillor for the Isle of Wight, David Pugh worked at the Conservative Central Office in Westminster holding the position of Head of Youth with the responsibility for Conservative Future. This was a post he held for 4 years between 2000 and 2004. During this time, he visited several Eastern European countries, representing the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.