Des has been the MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun since 1997. An Ayrshireman by birth, Des attended St Michael's Academy, Kilwinning before graduating as a lawyer from Glasgow University. In 1993, he was called to the Bar and became one of the most respected child law advocates in Scotland.

Des made strong speeches in the House of Commons on Human Rights, Northern Ireland and Social Security, and became Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Donald Dewar in 1998. He helped Donald pilot the Scotland Act through Parliament. After service on the Public Administration Select Committee, Northern Ireland Minister, Adam Ingram asked him to become his PPS in 2000. He was then elected to the first Joint Committee on Human Rights as the only Scottish Labour backbencher, a position he held until the election of 2001.

In 2001, Des was asked by Prime Minister (PM) Tony Blair to become the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Following the suspension of Stormont, he also took up responsibility for the Health Service, and Social Security. In June 2003, the PM promoted him to the Minister for Work at the Department for Work and Pensions. After only 9 months in that post, the PM called on him to take on the role of Minister for Immigration and Citizenship in the Home Office.

Des was again returned as MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun in May 2005 and in the reshuffle which followed the election was promoted to the cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Together with other duties, in this new role, Des had responsibility for public expenditure. He was also appointed to the Privy Council, one of the oldest parts of Government.

Des was Secretary of State for Defence between May 2006 and October 2008.   In this post he was the Cabinet Minister charged with making and executing Defence policy, and with providing the means by which it is executed, the Armed Forces.

He was also Secretary of State for Scotland between June 2007 and October 2008. He held this post jointly with the post of Secretary of State for Defence.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown appointed Des his Special Envoy to Sri Lanka in February 2009.

"I have always ensured that the interests of the people of Kilmarnock and Loudoun are at the centre of all my work, and this website will make that connection even stronger." Des Browne MP