Political career
In July 2022,Opher replaced former Labour MP David Drew as the Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for Stroud. He has served as the Member of Parliament for Stroud since the 2024 general election,where he defeated Conservative incumbent Siobhan Baillie. [2] [3] Opher polled 25,607 votes to Baillie's 14,219.
Opher made his maiden speech on 5 September 2024 in a debate on renewable energy. He speaks regularly in Parliament on a range of issues,particularly around health and poverty. [4]
He sits on a number of All Party Parliamentary Groups,and is Chair of the Health Group and Vice-Chair of the Net Zero Group.
In November 2024,Opher co-ordinated a group of MPs who are also medics and support assisted dying. The cross-party group called on colleagues to support legislation from Labour MP Kim Leadbeater,calling on Parliament to be “brave enough to change the law in this difficult area for the benefit of patients”. [4]
Continuing his advocacy for social prescribing,alongside Craic Health,Opher supported the launch of a scheme called 'Comedy-on-Prescription'. Aimed at tackling social isolation and poor mental health,Opher said in Parliament that “making people laugh can avoid the need for medication”. [5] Alongside Craic founder Lu Jackson,Opher chaired a panel discussion at the inaugural SXSW London with the comedian Jonathon Pie to discuss the benefits of Comedy-on-Prescription.
Opher advocates for the safety and protection of healthcare workers in the Gaza Strip. He has spoken in the House about the deliberate targeting of healthcare workers by the Israeli Defence Forces in the Gaza War. [6] In September 2025,Opher and fellow MP Peter Prinsley were denied entry into Israel during a trip to the occupied West Bank organised by the Council for Arab-British Understanding. The pair were part of a parliamentary delegation observing medical and humanitarian work being undertaken by Medical Aid for Palestinians and other organisations. [7] The British Foreign Office described the denial as "totally unacceptable and deeply concerning." [7]
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