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. 

David Chadwick MP: Brecon, Radnor and Cym Tawe

David lives in Brecon with his wife Gemma and young son William.

David works as a consultant in Cybersecurity and became interested in politics when his grandfather took him to see the steelworks in Port Talbot to see what it was like to work in a blast furnace stating it gave him an early insight into how politics, industry and communities are intrinsically linked.

David is keen to build on the hard work of local Liberal Democrat councillors who took control of Powys Council in 2022 after the Conservatives were left with just a single councillor across Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe.

David’s priorities include:

• Making sure local farmers aren’t sold down the river in the name of cheap trade deals.
• Protecting our pristine natural environment, including ending sewage dumping in the River Wye. Tawe and Usk.
• Fighting for better economic investment, well-paid jobs and improved infrastructure in rural Wales and the former industrial heartlands of the upper Swansea Valley; making sure that our residents aren’t ignored by those in London and the South East.

Twitter: @libdemdavid

Manuela Perteghella MP: Stratford-Upon-Avon

Manuela Perteghella had a career in Higher Education, and is now a Stratford-on-Avon District Councillor, representing the ward of Welford on Avon. Manuela has volunteered as parish councillor and school governor, and is a director of a social enterprise supporting local artists. She has worked for several years as a university lecturer and researcher, and produced community arts projects.

Manuela is the credible, strong alternative to the Conservatives. An experienced community leader, she is a compassionate and caring politician, who listens and works with her constituents, tier of governments and agencies to help resolve issues.

Manuela has already campaigned on several issues affecting her constituency and communities, from tackling food insecurity to fighting for local health services, from demanding action on sewage in rivers and protecting woodland and green spaces, to better public transport in rural villages and areas.

Twitter: @MP4Stratford

Tom Gordon MP: Harrogate and Knaresborough

Tom was born and raised in Yorkshire, and growing up nearby he has fond memories of visiting the Great Yorkshire Show with school and day trips to Knaresborough Market with his Gran.

He was the first person in his family to go to University, and studied for a BSc (hons) in Biochemistry and a Masters of Public Health (MPH) at Newcastle University, before working in the scientific recruitment and health services research sector.

Tom first got involved in politics after family life was turned upside down when his mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. He saw first hand how statutory sick pay (SSP) wasn’t enough for his mum, a single parent working a minimum wage job, to put food on the table and pay the bills. He moved home and switched to studying part time to help care for and support his mum and younger sister.

It was this experience, and seeing first hand the lack of support for our most vulnerable and sick, that saw Tom become politically engaged and start campaigning for change. His involvement in politics saw him elected to a neighbouring Local Authority, where he was one of the youngest Council Group Leaders in Yorkshire. He took up positions working as a Researcher for an MEP and later running an MP’s office.

Tom now has settled in Harrogate and has worked in a number of policy roles in the charitable sector, including for the Carers Trust. As a former young adult carer himself, he is passionate about fighting for increased support and recognition for carers and the work they do.

Outside of politics, Tom is also a keen runner and badminton player. He has completed over a dozen long distance charity runs, including the Paris and Berlin marathons, raising money for a range of charities including Cancer Research and Alzheimer’s Society.

Twitter: @tomgordonLD