Michael Wills was born in 1952.

He graduated from Clare College, Cambridge in 1973 and in 1976 he came top in the entrance exam for the Diplomatic Service and became Third Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Between 1977 and 1980 he became Second Secretary and Labour Attache in New Delhi.

In 1980 he became a researcher on the ITV current affairs programme 'Weekend World', becoming a producer in 1982.

In 1985 he founded the independent television production company 'Juniper' and was producer/director and managing director until 1997.

At the same time he started advising the Shadow Cabinet, initially on defence and then on trade and industry and Treasury matters. At the 1992 General Election he worked as a media adviser to the Trade and Industry team.

In 1997 he was elected Labour MP for North Swindon and was re-elected in 2001 and 2005.

He was appointed Minister for Small Firms at the Department of Trade and Industry in 1999, Minister for Learning and Technology at the then Department for Education and Employment in 2000 and Minister at the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Home Office in 2002. He was appointed Minister of State for Constitutional Renewal at the Ministry of Justice in July 2007.

Michael is married with five children.