Our new MPs Max Wilkinson, Sarah Gibson, Anna Sabine, Brian Mathew, Vikki Slade

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

Max Wilkinson MP: Cheltenham

Max Wilkinson is a well-known face around Cheltenham. He’s served the town for more than ten years and lives in Fairview with his wife and daughter.

During his decade of service to our town as a local councillor, Max has helped Cheltenham make progress on issues ranging from affordable housing to the environment and cost of living. He is already deeply embedded in the community and he knows how this town works. He’s ready to hit the ground running as our new MP.

Max was a local councillor until May 2024, when he stepped aside to focus on his campaign to become the MP. In his early years of campaigning, he led the fight for more affordable housing, leading to Cheltenham’s £180million investment plan for homes.

He spent two years fighting for our planet as Cabinet Member for Climate Change, leading on the introduction of a climate action plan and tough new rules on planning so we can get a better deal from developers.

He moved on to a role focused on the economy and wellbeing. There, he worked closely with our arts and culture sectors on a new plan to enhance the prosperity of our High Street. Max also worked on the cost of living, securing more money for food banks and support for food bank users.

He has also written a fair few articles for us.

Twitter: @mpmwilko

Sarah Gibson MP: Chippenham

Sarah was brought up here in Wiltshire, She studied architecture in London, joining the Liberal party at freshers week! She returned home to Wiltshire after working in Spain for some years to set up an architectural practice.

As a Wiltshire Councillor she realised that the issues she and her peers were fighting at Local Government level need a strong champion at Westminster.

As your Member of Parliament, she pledges to work tirelessly for the betterment of the whole constituency, addressing critical issues and advocating for positive change. Supporting our excellent local councillors here and across the constituency.

Twitter: @sarahgibsonld

Anna Sabine MP: Frome and East Somerset

Anna grew up in Hampshire with her Mum and younger brother. After attending the local state comprehensive school Anna got a place at Oxford University to study politics. After graduating she worked in the charity sector before moving to France for two years with her young son.

On her return in 2007 they moved to Rode, near Frome, and Anna started working for a company which specialised in community consultation. Anna eventually became CEO and owner of this firm, but in 2020 she changed direction and set up a co-working café in Bath where she now works part time as well as being a freelance communications consultant and executive coach.

Anna has two teenaged children and a cocker spaniel called Buddy.

Brian Mathew MP: Melksham and Devizes

Brian won Box and Colerne on Wiltshire Council from the Conservatives in 2017. He massively increased his majority in 2021.

At Wiltshire Council, Brian brought together an unlikely coalition to win the Climate and Emergency Motion. Despite opposition from the Tory Leadership, it won on a ‘Rugby Score’ of a vote: 36 for, 32 against, and 7 abstentions.

This committed Wiltshire to strive for Carbon Neutrality by 2030 and for the Council to change the way it works.

Brian also won through the scaling up of Wiltshire’s ‘Shared Lives’ Adult Social Care Programme, which is not only giving people a better family life in care, it is providing a living to carers and has saved Wiltshire Council hundreds of thousands of pounds each year raised from your Council Tax. A real ‘win, win, win!’

Brian is passionate about combating poverty and has proved this with his career in development work, assisting charities and NGOs across Africa. He has worked in war zones and on cholera epidemics and understands first-hand what is needed to keep people safe.

Locally, he has volunteered with the Wiltshire-based social welfare charity HEALS, and raised thousands for charity including the Royal British Legion.

When Brian isn’t campaigning tirelessly for the Liberal Democrats or representing your views on the council, he enjoys cycling and walking his dog Heidi!

Twitter: @brianmathewLD

Vikki Slade MP: Mid Dorset and North Poole

Vikki Slade has lived in Broadstone with her family for over 25 years, she previously worked in financial services and ran a business on the high street where she found her love for community issues by running the local Chamber of Trade and getting stuck into community events.

Vikki has also worked in the charity sector and for the NHS before she was elected Leader of BCP Council in 2019 where she led the community through the Covid crisis.

She has used her experience of bringing up her family here in Dorset and supporting her mother through illness to inform her priorities. Her four children are now grown up – three are at university and the youngest is about to go into college – and she is committed to reform of business rates and planning policy so high streets can thrive again, providing low cost homes in town centres so we can protect the countryside, improving special educational needs and the experience of those children who are brought up in care so every child can thrive, improving public transport and rethinking care so older people can live in dignity.

Vikki believes in everyone having the opportunity to make the best of their lives, and wants to ensure that Dorset gets a fair deal. She said ‘its the most wonderful place to live and work but there are hidden issues and we must ensure that every resident and business can be part of a safe and strong community’

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