He is married with two sons. He has previously been Director of Quality Care Homes Plc 1992-1997, and Adviser to the Social Market Foundation 1993-1997.

Michael was formerly the Member of Parliament for Darlington 1983 to 1992, in which time he was Government Whip 1988-1990, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Schools 1990-1992. He was a Member of the Higher Education Funding Council 1993-1997 and the DTI Deregulation Task Force 1994-1997. He has been Governor of Whitefield School (the first special school to win GM status) since 1994.

In May 1997, Michael was elected Member of Parliament for Sevenoaks with a majority 10,461. Since 1997, he has served as an Opposition Frontbench Spokesman on Trade and Industry and as a Frontbench Treasury Spokesman.