Hilary Benn is the Labour MP for Leeds Central and has been Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs since June 2007.

He was previously the Secretary of State for International Development a post he held for almost four years.

Hilary was elected to Ealing Borough Council in 1979 at the age of 25.  He served as Council Deputy Leader and Chair of Education.

After Labour's 1997 election victory, he became a special advisor for David Blunkett, the then Secretary of State for Education and Employment.

He was elected as the MP for Leeds Central in 1999 and was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development.

When not working, Hilary enjoys gardening and watching sport. He is married and has four children.