Nirj Deva was elected in 1999 as one of the Conservatives' five MEPs representing the South East and joined a new European Parliament with a clear centre-right majority - the first in a decade.  He was re-elected in 2004.

He serves as the Conservative Spokesman for Overseas' Development and Co-operation and has been described as sort of a Clare Short with a moustache and a beard!

Nirj is one of 27 UK Conservatives who are now part of the European Parliament's majority political group. The Group of the European People's Party and European Democrats in the European Parliament (EPP/ED Group) consists of 288 MEPs from all 27 member states.

Deva was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka into a political family but was raised in Britain. He was the Conservative Member of Parliament for Brentford and Isleworth from 1992 to 1997 and during that time served as Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Scottish Office and was a member of the Select Committees on the Parliamentary Ombudsman (1993-1997) and Education (1994-1996).

Speaking about his first day in the European Parliament, Nirj said:

"It couldn't have been more different from that in the House of Commons. In the European Parliament there is no sense of history. In the Commons I took an oath in front of my colleagues in the Chamber and swore loyalty to the Crown. I was proud to do so, not only as an MP but also as Her Majesty's Deputy Lord Lieutenant. In Brussels I was asked for a photograph, issued with a pass and that was it!

"There's no doubt that we're faced with new challenges across Europe. It's my ambition to help the Conservatives establish an EU that looks outwards; to encourage expansion, and to deliver our manifesto commitments to ensure that we are in Europe, not run by Europe. To create a freer, less regulated Europe; a Europe more like Britain - open, accountable, entrepreneurial and tolerant - a new Europe that does less and does it better".

As the Spokesman for Overseas' Development and Co-operation, Deva's main aim is  to ensure that EU funds are allocated to help the poorest people in the world. Daily he is fighting against inefficiencies and delays and for fraud to be eliminated.

Speaking about his position Nirj said, "I don't want to see increased amounts of money accrued to the aid budget until the resources that have already been promised are better spent".

Current issues of immediate concern to Nirj Deva include the workings of the World Trade Organisation and discussions on tariff reductions for the new millennium; poverty elimination; global environmental problems; resolving conflicts; landmine clearance, and self-help projects.