The Blair babe and the plumber

She is the original Blair babe, educated at one of the country's top convent schools and a rising star in the Commons. He left school at 16, has no interest in politics and is a plumber.

Their lives may seem poles apart but Labour MP Claire Ward has surprised her colleagues at Westminster by announcing her engagement to handyman John Simpson.

Despite mutterings about the gulf in their backgrounds, Miss Ward, 30, Britain's youngest woman MP, is delighted to have found "the perfect man".

Showing off her threediamond platinum engagement ring, she said: "I don't understand what the problem is going out with a plumber. John is 6ft, very good-looking and has a great sense of humour - everything I want in a man.

"This snobbery is bizarre. People think that because you're a plumber you're working class. But so what? John has the potential to earn in a year more than an MP.

"And besides, the last thing I want when I come home at night is a parliamentary debate about the issue of the day. When I talk legislation his eyes glaze over."

She added: "I couldn't think of anything worse than going out with another politician."

It was not so long ago that Miss Ward complained her hectic work life made it impossible to find the right man. "My life is so entrenched in politics - I spend most of my time in Parliament - that I envisaged marrying a political hack or a barrister," she said.

She and Mr Simpson, 34, first met in a Watford pub two years ago at a mutual friend's birthday party. But it was not until the following year at the same person's party that Miss Ward decided to make a move.

"I made up an excuse about not being sure about how to decorate my flat and John said he would come round and take a look," she said.

"I know that it was a bit cheeky of me but I really liked him and wanted to take it further."

A fellow guest at the party said: "They spent a lot of time together and there was a lot of whispering among the other guests. It was obvious something was going to happen between them from the start. She was on a mission."

Mr Simpson, whose success as a plumber has enabled him to set up his own business in Wembley, said: "I definitely liked Claire, that's for sure.

"We didn't get together until I went round to her flat and helped her decorate. My parents are absolutely delighted that we're getting married - and so am I."

Mr Simpson's mother, a nurse at Northwick Park hospital in Harrow, and father, a retired double glazer, are busy helping to arrange the wedding. It will take place in September in the gothic splendour of the House of Commons crypt. His three brothers and three sisters are "so excited they can't stop talking about it".

Miss Ward's parents - Labour councillors Frank and Cathy, who are both up for reelection in Borehamwood next month - believe their daughter has done well for herself.

Miss Ward attended girls' catholic convent school Loreto College in St Albans, among the country's top 21 colleges, and Hertfordshire University, before training as a solicitor at Brunel University.

Her rise to prominence has been rapid. Aged 21 she was already a councillor in Elstree and Borehamwood. At 24 she was mayor and - before turning 25 - she became MP for Watford in 1997. Since joining the Commons, she has served on the Culture select committee and has been parliamentary private secretary to former Home Office minister John Denham.

She added: "People say you can't get a plumber for love nor money - well I've got one for love. And I'm so lucky I've found a husband who's useful."