Stephen was first elected MP for his home constituency of Preseli Pembrokeshire in 2005. He was educated at state schools in Wales and Scotland, and at Bristol University and London Business School.

Prior to being elected Stephen was a marketing consultant and had previously worked in communications and policy roles with London Chamber of Commerce and the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services.

As a backbencher in Parliament, Stephen served on the Welsh Affairs, International Development and Treasury Select Committees. Following the 2010 election he was made a Government Whip in the Coalition Government and was promoted in September 2012 to Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales. In July 2014 he was promoted to the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Wales. He later served as Secretary of State for Department for Work and Pensions.

Stephen takes a strong interest in international development and believes firmly in the importance of the UK’s role overseas. From 2010 to 2012 he led Project Umubano, the Conservative Party’s social action project in Rwanda and Sierra Leone. He also takes a strong interest in welfare related issues and how we best tackle poverty.

In September 2017 Stephen was elected to the House of Commons Brexit Committee. In January 2020 Stephen was elected as chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee.