Derek Conway: Moonlighting Cop-MP Collared

Juggling two careers is never easy and it is no wonder that something gave in Derek Conway's busy schedule as he tried to juggle his fictional life at Sun Hill police station with his job as a Conservative parliamentarian and Whip where his plot lines had stretched to the dramatic ousting of a lame duck Tory leader, known rather quietly by initials only.

The poor chap had to endure four years out of the drama of the house 1997-2001 but giving up his television work - terminally written out in a bomb blast (2002) - Derek Conway regained a few stone and a seat in 2005.

Here's what Tory HQ say about him, glossing over his thespian activities:

Derek Conway was elected MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup in 2001. Previously, he was MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham for 14 years, up to 1997.
He contested his first Parliamentary seat in 1974 and was subsequently a councillor on Gateshead Borough Council and Tyne & Wear County Council. He was active in the TA and has worked for a number of charities, including Action Research for the Crippled Child and the Cat Protection League.
He was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Wales from 1988-91 and to Minister of State for Employment from 1992-93. He was subsequently Assistant government whip from 1993-94 and Government whip from 1993-97.

Born in Newcastle, he is married with 2 sons and 1 daughter.
Contact Derek
Email: conwayd@parliament.uk
Telephone: 020 8308 0398
Postal Address: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.

Cat Protection League is a really nice touch Derek.

Son Freddie was lucky enough to get a student scholarship from Slush Unlimited of more than £1,000 a month - on the tax payer - although we're now hearing that he did not get his homework finished.

Mr Conway said: "It is great to get a chance to play parts on both sides of the law. As a law keeper and a parliamentary law breaker. To be honest for just the once in my life I was bang to rights nicking £45,000 from the till at work. Ten days' gardening leave looks very much like a let off.

"I was lucky the Commissioner was a great fan of my fictional character and has so kindly supported my creative writing on the old expenses front. It could have been 18 months in an open prison, nicking £45,000?, I'll say."