Helen Maguire

Last updated

2024–present
Helen Maguire
BEM MP
Official portrait of Helen Maguire MP crop 2 v2.jpg
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for Epsom and Ewell
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 July 2024		 Defence
Personal details
Born (1977-07-11) 11 July 1977 (age 47)
Political party Liberal Democrats
Alma mater Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

Helen Elaine Maguire [1] (born 11 July 1977) is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Epsom and Ewell since 2024. Before entering politics, Maguire served in the British Army with the Royal Military Police and worked as a fundraiser and fitness instructor.

Contents

Early life and career

Maguire studied French and German at university. She gained her officer's commission from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. [2] A former Captain in the Royal Military Police, she served in Bosnia on a NATO peacekeeping mission, and in Iraq to help rebuild the Iraqi Police and provide on-the-ground counter-insurgency policing support to infantry. [3]

After leaving the army, Maguire worked as a personal fitness instructor and founded a fitness company. She became a chartered fundraiser in 2016 and later ran a fundraising consultancy business. [2]

Maguire received the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to the community in Claygate, Surrey (in the neighbouring constituency of Esher and Walton, where she lives with her family. [4] [3]

Parliamentary career

Maguire won the seat of Epsom and Ewell in the 2024 general election with 20,674 votes (37.9 per cent), gaining a majority of 3,686 over the second-placed Conservative candidate. [5] [6] The seat had previously been held by Conservative Chris Grayling, who had announced in October 2023 that he would not stand for re-election. [7]

On 18 September, Maguire was appointed by Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey as the party spokesperson for Defence as part of his Frontbench Team. [8]

References

  1. ↑ "No. 64465". The London Gazette . 22 July 2024. p. 14085.
  2. 1 2 "Helen Maguire". 50:50 Parliament. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  3. 1 2 Jones, Sam (20 October 2023). "LibDem PPC awarded Medal by the King". Epsom and Ewell Times. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  4. ↑ "No. 64082". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2023. p. B33.
  5. ↑ "Epsom and Ewell – General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  6. ↑ "Epsom & Ewell | General Election 2024". Sky News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  7. ↑ "Surrey MP Chris Grayling to step down after cancer diagnosis". BBC News. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  8. ↑ Self, Josh (18 September 2024). "Ed Davey unveils new Liberal Democrat frontbench". Politics.co.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Epsom and Ewell
2024–present		Incumbent
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