We thought you might like to find out a little bit about our new MPs. We didn’t think we’d have quite so many, but this is a lovely problem to have. All details come from the party website or the MPs’ social media. We’ll get to know them more over the next wee while, but here’s a taster. 

Our editor sleepily compiled a Twitter list of all our MPs’ accounts she could find. You can follow it here. 

Mike Martin MP: Tunbridge Wells

Mike Martin is standing as the candidate for Tunbridge Wells. He is a former British army officer who served multiple tours in Helmand, Afghanistan. Since leaving the army, he has also had other leadership roles, including as a senior executive in a global charity working to bring different people and organisations together to solve problems.

Mike is a Senior Fellow at King’s College London – an expert in geopolitics and conflict – and the author of several books on psychology, conflict and travel.

His background has taught him a lot about how to understand and work with different perspectives, how to bring people together to solve problems and how to get difficult things done.

Mike is campaigning on making the town centre of Tunbridge Wells a town centre that is fit for the 21st century—greener, less traffic, and with more things for youngsters to do. He would also like to lead a drive towards building more affordable housing in the area and, crucially, to make sure there is sufficient infrastructure for the houses that we already have. This means enough GP surgeries, and school places, and public transport.

At a national and international level, Mike has significant expertise in geopolitics and conflict. If elected, his focus at a national level will be on helping guide the UK through the turbulent years that we face.

Twitter: @threshedthought

Danny Chambers MP: Winchester

Danny works as a vet in Winchester, is the trustee of two charities and was elected by his peers to the body that governs the veterinary profession. He’s been involved in charitable projects all over the world.

He is committed to campaigning for better healthcare services for Winchester. He has also used his platform as a vet to campaign nationally on wider issues ranging from mental health to animal welfare.

Danny enjoys cycling, running and hiking. One of his favourite routes is the Itchen Navigation along the route of the old canal.

Twitter: @dannyvet

Charlie Maynard MP: Witney

Charlie has a background in business, is centrist and practical in political outlook, and has been a local councillor on West Oxfordshire District Council since 2022. He lives with his family between Witney and Stanton Harcourt.

Charlie is running for parliament because he wants to get useful things done for the local community and get the country back on track nationally.

Charlie spent three years volunteering as Chair of the Witney Oxford Transport Group, leading the project to rebuild the railway line linking Carterton, Witney, Eynsham and Oxford. The aim is to reduce traffic on the A40 and have a long-term plan for our area which protects our beautiful countryside while also keeping it economically vibrant with jobs and sufficient housing, especially for young people.

Charlie’s career has been in business. Aged 25, he co-founded BDA Partners, an Asia-focused advisory firm. He spent 24 years working with colleagues to build the business, which now employs more than 120 people across nine global offices. He decided to step back from the business in January 2021, part of a long-term plan to spend the second part of his life being useful.

Charlie has overcome challenges, whether it’s recovering from breaking his neck aged 18 or building a global business. He believes in hard work, in trusting people and working as a team to solve problems. He knows how important it is to keep going. He is much more focused on what unites us than what divides us.

If you’ve been worried about the direction the country is going in and would like a fresh start for Witney and western Oxfordshire, join Charlie’s team of volunteers. Getting involved in politics is empowering — together we can make a difference.

Twitter: @cammaynard

Will Forster MP: Woking

The most important thing about Will Forster is that he has a beautiful dog, Toffee, who is bound to be a contender for Westminster Dog of the Year:

Walking in #Woking with Toffee is really nice today – so many people stopping me to say congratulations, and quite a few shouts of well done from passing cars! Thank you all ❤️ 🔶 pic.twitter.com/N1KxPnQK3J

— Will Forster 🔶 (@WillForster) July 6, 2024

Will Forster is campaigning to be the first Liberal Democrat MP for Woking – the town where he was born and raised. An experienced local councillor since 2009 and former Mayor, recently Will became Deputy Leader of Woking Borough Council where he has played a leading role tackling the financial crisis left by the former Conservative council.

Educated in Goldsworth Park and Horsell, Will now lives near Woking Park where he often walks his sausage dog Toffee. Will has always fought for the vulnerable in our community. Raised by a single parent who had mental health issues, he understands all too well the damage that rising prices and a lack of appropriate local health care can do to families.

Will said, “I’m standing to be our next MP because no-one is exempt from the hardships caused by the incompetence of this Conservative Government. I want to get a fair deal for the people of Woking and its villages. I’ll be a strong voice for our area in Parliament and I’ll always put Woking first.”

“My priorities are clear: get help for Woking Council from the Government, fix our NHS, cut the cost of living and protect our environment. That means fairer funding for councils, making it easier to see a doctor, a real windfall tax on oil and gas companies, and no more sewage dumped into our rivers.”

Twitter: @willforster

Clive Jones MP: Wokingham

Clive Jones and his wife have lived in the Wokingham area for over 40 years. His children were born at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and, like Clive, attended local schools. As well as a successful career in business, Clive was a councillor and leader of Wokingham Borough Council. He stepped down in 2024 to spend even more time talking to residents and understanding their concerns in the run up to the general election.

Since being diagnosed with cancer in 2008 he has helped to raise over £800,000 for cancer charities. He has made fixing our NHS his top priority, leading the campaign to ensure funding for the promised new Royal Berkshire Hospital is delivered.

As leader of Wokingham Borough Council he helped deliver real action to those in need, including ensuring free school meals were provided during holidays. He’s also campaigning locally for cleaner rivers and to stop the sewage scandal.

Clive’s experiences and local knowledge make him the best choice in Wokingham. “I will be a hard-working, local MP for Wokingham, fighting for a fair deal for our community and prioritising the issues that residents have told me matter most.”

Twitter: @clivejonesmp