Steve came to live in South Thanet to work for Pfizer in 1990, and fell in love with the area. He was moved by the dereliction and areas of deprivation that he saw in places that have a great history and set about doing something to put things right.
In 1995 he became a Thanet Councillor and was appointed as Chairman of Finance. In 1997 he was elected as the MP for South Thanet, defeating ex-cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken. He also remained on Thanet Council until 1999.
Steve is very much a 'constituency' MP and works closely with Thanet and Dover Councils, Kent County Council and the other public bodies to drive forward the regeneration of South Thanet. He visits local businesses, farms, voluntary bodies, schools and other local organisations every week to make sure that he stays in touch with their needs. Unlike many other MPs, Steve is a full time MP and has no paid links with any other organisation.
Steve was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health (Minister for Community) in the 2003 reshuffle. As a health minister he is responsible for children's health, older people's health and adult social services, long term conditions including autism, carers and prison health. He is also responsible for the Health Service in the Midlands, the East of England and London.
As a back bench MP, before 2003, Steve was probably best known for helping to set up the All Party Group on Autism which he chaired until 2003. He also took an interest in economic policy, energy and science and was a member of the Environment, Transport and Regions Select Committee and its Transport sub-committee from 1999-2001.
From 2001 to 2003 he was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Armed Forces Minister (Rt.Hon. Adam Ingram MP). He was also 'Liaison MP for the Netherlands' and chaired the All Party British Dutch Group.
"Being a minister doesn't detract one bit from me being a conscientious local MP and I still try to do as much as I can in the patch" says Steve. "Infact I think being a minister helps the constituency because when I am making decisions it is often the experiences of people at home in South Thanet that are at the forefront of mind."
Steve holds weekly surgeries in Ramsgate, monthly surgeries in the other towns and villages and a 'street surgery' somewhere in the constituency most Saturdays. His office is open weekdays and all his staff are based in his constituency office.
Contact - Constituency Office:
28, Newington Road
Ramsgate
Kent
CT12 6EE
Telephone: 01843 852696
Fax: 01843 852689
Email: steveladyman@email.labour.org.uk
The constituency office is usually staffed in ordinary office hours but it is best to ring from 10am to 4pm when parliament is sitting, or 10am to 1pm in recess.
Find out what Steve is up to in Westminster and Thanet by visiting his website
To contact Dr Ladyman, write to:
Dr.S.Ladyman MP
House of Commons
London, SW1A 0AA
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