St Ives & the Isles of Scilly
Derek Thomas was elected as the Member of Parliament for the constituency of St Ives and the Isles of Scilly in the 2015 General Election, becoming the first Conservative MP for the area since 1997. He is currently a member of the Science and Technology Select Committee.

Born to missionary parents, Derek grew up in West Cornwall and qualified as a Cornish Mason within the Construction Industry before taking up a career in the voluntary sector working with vulnerable people for over 17 years. During this time, Derek developed a number of initiatives supporting vulnerable people to become more independent and ensure that they develop skills towards securing employment. Derek also set up a small construction company, developing redundant buildings into residential properties.

Derek has also served as a District and Parish Councillor and has brought his experience in regards to local issues into his work at Westminster, prioritising the topics of skills, jobs, housing and health.

Derek lives in the rural village of St Buryan with his wife Tamsin Thomas and their three young children.