Tell us about your career path since graduation. How did you end up where you are? 

I left in 1978 with an unclear idea of what I wanted, so I went to work in a record shop. Within a year or so, I was managing the Our Price Record branches in Tottenham Court Road, then Leicester Square, before being promoted to Regional Executive Director covering 26 shops. Between 1983 and 1997, I was in charge of a small railway station for British Rail (Hornsey), managed a wine shop, taught EFL mostly to Swedes, and worked as the Lib Dem environment campaigner in the House of Commons. I was elected to parliament as the Lib Dem MP for Lewes in 1997 (until 2015), the first non-Conservative to win the seat since about 1869. Between 2010 and 2014, I served as first Transport and then Home Office minister in the government. After leaving parliament, I ran a bus company in Brighton, delivered training courses for the civil service, and became a regular on TV and radio. I have had four books published and released three albums, two with my band The Reform Club and one solo album. I present two music shows a week on my local FM station. 

What was it about your time at Royal Holloway that has most benefitted your career or influenced your path since graduation? 

I enjoyed my time at Royal Holloway, and grew a lot as a person. To be honest, the best training for post-university life was being elected three times to run one of the hall bars, at the now demolished Cameron Hall. It was my grounding in politics, handling volunteers, and negotiating with outsiders, in this case the brewery companies. 

What would you say to potential students considering studying at Royal Holloway? / What advice would you give to students thinking about a career in your sector? 

Give it a look and see if it feels right for you. As for my sector, not sure what that is! 

What did you love most about your time at Royal Holloway? / What's your favourite memory of Royal Holloway? 

I loved it all - many happy memories!