Brooks was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Braintree in 2005. Brooks has served as a member of the Science and Technology Committee (2005-7) and the Treasury Select Committee (2006-7). Brooks was promoted to the Whips' Office in July 2007, serving first as the Treasury Whip until 2009 and latterly as the Foreign Affairs Whip 2009-10.

In 2010, Brooks won the newly configured seat of Braintree, increasing his majority to 16,121. As part of the new Coalition Government, Brooks has been appointed a Senior Government Whip with responsibility for the Department of Business and the Wales Office. Brooks is also a Lords Commissioner.

Brooks' special interests include: Economic Policy, Foreign Policy (Middle East, India, China and USA), Poverty Reduction and International Development (Microfinance), Special Needs Education, and Women's Issues (Healthcare & Politics).

Brooks has published a number of papers on debt: 'Simply Red: The True State of the Public Finances' (CPS, 2006), 'The Price of Irresponsibility' (CPS, 2008) and 'The Hidden Debt Bombshell' (CPS, 2009).

Brooks is also a Board Director at Harvard University (Harvard Alumni Association) and Co-Chairman of the Party's Women2Win campaign.

Prior to entering politics, Brooks was a Senior Partner of Apollo Management LP, a leading International Private Equity firm.

Brooks was educated at Harvard College (AB History) and Harvard Business School (MBA Finance), and was also a Politics Research Graduate at Worcester College, Oxford.

Brooks lives locally with his wife and five children. In addition to spending as much time as possible with his children, Brooks is a keen Newcastle United supporter (and season ticket holder), and enjoys skiing and long-distance running. Brooks is involved in numerous charities, including get Kids Going! PARC and Farleigh Hospice.