Lee Dillon
Cllr Lee Dillon | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Newbury | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Laura Farris |
| Majority | 2,337 (4.8%) |
| Leader of West Berkshire Council | |
| In office 4 May 2023 – 30 April 2024 | |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Brooks |
| Constituency | Thatcham North East |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1983 (age 41) Thatcham, England |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Website | https://www.leedillon.co.uk |
Lee Raymond James Dillon[1] (born 1983) is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Newbury since 2024. He gained the seat from Conservative, Laura Farris.[2]
Before entering Parliament, Dillon was a social housing senior manager for sovereign housing and had served as Leader of West Berkshire Council from 2023 to 2024.[3][4]
Early political career
Dillon describes former Newbury MP, David Rendel, as his political inspiration.[5]
Dillon became a councillor on Thatcham town council in 2007, twice elected as the mayor.[6] In 2015, he became a councillor on West Berkshire Council.[7]
At the 2023 local elections, the Liberal Democrats took majority control of West Berkshire Council.[8][9] Subsequently, Dillon was elected council leader.[10] He took sabbatical leave from the role in January 2024, before resigning as leader on 30 April 2024 to contest the Newbury constituency in the upcoming general election.[11]
Parliamentary career
Dillon first stood for election at the 2005 general election in Islwyn, coming third with 12.5%.[12] He again stood for election for the Newbury constituency in the 2019 general election, coming second with 30.6%.[13]
In 2023, Dillon was re-selected as the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Newbury.[14] He went on to win the constituency at the 2024 general election with 40.1%, winning the seat for the Liberal Democrats for the first time since 2001.[15][16]
Personal life
Dillon grew up in Thatcham, where his family owns a local pub.[17]
Dillon has a wife and young children. His father was a trade union official.[4][17]
A keen football fan, he regularly takes his children to watch Reading F.C., and supports his local team, Thatcham Town F.C.[17]
References
- ^ House of Commons, Votes and Proceedings, Tuesday 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Newbury | General Election 2024". Sky News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Changes to leadership at West Berkshire Council". West Berkshire Council. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ a b "Meet the candidates: Lee Dillon, Liberal Democrats". Newbury Today. 2024-06-19. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ "Lee Dillon Elected as Newbury MP". www.wbld.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "'Young but years of experience' — interview with Lib Dem candidate for Newbury". Reading Chronicle. 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ "Election results for Thatcham North East, 7 May 2015". decisionmaking.westberks.gov.uk. 2015-05-07. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ "West Berkshire result - Local Elections 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Tories lose control of three Berkshire councils". BBC News. 2023-05-05. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "West Berkshire Council leader steps down to fight general election". Reading Chronicle. 2024-05-10. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ "West Berkshire Council leader Lee Dillon quits to run as MP". BBC News. 2024-04-30. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ "BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Results | Islwyn". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Newbury parliamentary constituency - Election 2019 - BBC News". Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Lee Dillon selected to fight Newbury constituency for Liberal Democrats at next election". www.wbld.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Newbury - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Former Lib Dem MP David Rendel dies after cancer battle". BBC News. 2016-05-17. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ a b c "Meet Lee Dillon". www.wbld.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-13.