Ben and his wife Liza live just outside Lancaster in the north of the County. They have three young children. Ben has been the Member of Parliament for Wyre and Preston North since May 2010.

After leaving school at eighteen, Ben did a short stint as a Ski Instructor in Austria before entering the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the Scots Guards at twenty. Ben saw operational service in Northern Ireland and Central America. During his military career he served in the posts of Platoon Commander, Company Commander, Operations Officer and as an Intelligence Officer in Northern Ireland. In 1991 he was Mentioned in Despatches.

Ben was elected to the Scottish Parliament to represent North East Scotland in May 1999. He became Shadow Health spokesman for the Conservatives and served on the Health Select Committee.

In 2003 Ben stood down and moved to Lancashire. He was selected as Conservative candidate to fight the marginal seat of Lancaster & Wyre. Until the General Election of 2005, Ben was employed by QinetiQ as their Overseas Director in the Security & Intelligence Division.

At the last General Election changes to the constituency boundaries in Lancashire meant that the constituency of Lancaster and Wyre was divided to form two new constituencies: Wyre & Preston North and Lancaster & Fleetwood. The new constituency of Wyre and Preston North also includes areas which had previously formed part of the Ribble Valley constituency and the Fylde constituency. In May 2010 Ben stood for election in the newly created constituency of Wyre and Preston North and was successful in being returned to Parliament.

Ben's interests are the NHS, Home Affairs and Foreign Policy. When time permits he enjoys Rugby, and Skiing and Horse Racing as well as spending time with his family in Lancashire.