Paul was first elected as Member of Parliament for Eastleigh in December 2019. Boundary changes for the 2024 General Election meant that the Eastleigh constituency was split and the new Hamble Valley seat was created, where Paul currently serves as MP.
He was born in London and grew up on a council estate in Lewisham where his Dad was a Sales Manager and his Mum was a shop assistant. He attended comprehensive schools and was educated at Southampton University.
Paul was elected to Southampton City Council in 2008 and served until 2012 and sat as Chair of the Planning Committee and Cabinet Member for Education and Social Services.
Professionally, Paul was most recently Head of Public Affairs for a housing association and previously served as Special Adviser to a number of Cabinet Ministers.
In Parliament, he has served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Secretary, Secretary of State for Housing, and Foreign Secretary respectively, before being appointed as a Government Whip in 2024.
Following the 2024 General Election, Paul was appointed as Shadow Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Shadow Northern Ireland Minister.
Subsequent to the election of Kemi Badenoch as Leader of the Conservative Party, Paul was appointed as Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government.