Martin Charles Horwood

http://www.libdems.org.uk/martin_horwood

Martin Horwood MP
MP for Cheltenham

Martin Horwood is Member of Parliament for Cheltenham and co-chair of the Liberal Democrat parliamentary party’s committee on international affairs.

He was born and brought up in Cheltenham and lives in the town today with his wife Shona and their two children. He joined the Young Liberals while still at school in Cheltenham.

Before becoming an MP he worked for Oxfam and as Director of Fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Society, and then for a business based in Cheltenham working with other leading charities.

He was elected in 2005 and re-elected with an increased majority in 2010.

Record Of Delivery
Since becoming MP for Cheltenham, Martin has:

Backed the LibDem pupil premium policy to support our least-well off kids as well as more free school meals and early years childcare. Pittville School alone now gets £250,000 a year in pupil premium and St.Thomas More and Springbank Primaries over £60,000 each.
Voted for the LibDem tax break for Cheltenham’s lowest paid and the ‘triple lock’ to protect pensions
Successfully campaigned to protect local NHS services like St.Paul’s maternity unit at Cheltenham General.
Helped successful local bids for £5m for better cycle and bus lanes, electric charging points and extra pedestrianisation, and £45m for better rail connections to Swindon, Reading and London.
Campaigned for a greener Cheltenham: promoting green jobs, working to save green spaces, backing the LibDem borough council’s record push for recycling and opposing the Gloucestershire badger cull and Conservative incinerator plans.
Strongly backed a new deal for householders seeking flood insurance
Martin passionately promotes local charities, colleges, schools, businesses and festivals and has been chosen as a trustee for the new trust that will look after the town’s historic Pump Room and Town Hall, sporting and leisure venues and stunning new art gallery.

Parliamentary Experience
Martin’s first parliamentary role in 2006 was to work across party lines to improve charity law.
On select committees, he has argued for more local control over planning and tougher action against pollution.
In 2006, he became a LibDem shadow environment minister, jointly tabling a key amendment that increased UK climate change targets.
Martin was voted parliamentary Animal Welfare Champion in 2009.
In 2010 Martin co-chaired the LibDem transport committee, backing more investment in rail and local transport.
Martin promoted a private member’s bill to protect local pubs.
Since 2011, he has co-chaired the party’s international affairs committee, supporting the historic spending of 0.7% of national wealth on development and lobbying hard for the 2013 International Arms Trade Treaty.
Martin works in cross-party parliamentary groups supporting the environment and development, more ethical behaviour by companies and the protection of vulnerable tribal peoples.