He won the seat in a by-election in May 1993 caused by the death of Judith Chaplin, and he held it until his defeat at the 2005 general election to Conservative candidate Richard Benyon.

After a gap year volunteering in Africa, he worked in the finance department of Shell Oil Company.

Rendel fought and lost two elections in 1979 and 1983 at Fulham, before moving to Newbury in 1986, when his wife started work as a GP.

Rendel held on to his seat in 1997 and 2001 with reduced majorities, but at the 2005 election he was defeated by the Conservative candidate, Richard Benyon.

[2] In May 2006, Rendel was selected by local party members as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Newbury seat for the next election.