Simon Opher
Dr Simon Opher | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament for Stroud | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Siobhan Baillie |
| Majority | 11,411 (20.7%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Oxfordshire, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Education | St Mary's Hospital Medical School |
| Occupation | General practitioner & Member of Parliament |
Simon Joseph Opher[1] MBE MP is a British Labour Party politician and general practitioner who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Stroud since 2024.
Background
[edit]Opher, originally from Oxfordshire, attended to a comprehensive school before studying medicine at St Mary's Hospital Medical School in London. Prior to becoming and MP he worked and lived in Dursley as a full-time GP for "almost exactly 29 years," with his wife Rachel; their three children attended the local Rednock School. He was awarded an MBE in 2016 for introducing and advocating social prescribing (now part of NHS policy nationwide) and was instrumental in the building of the Vale Community Hospital. Chairman of the Stroud Locality NHS, Opher headed the Covid-19 vaccination program locally and pledged, if elected, to remain working as a GP as time permitted.
He is chair of the charity that runs Prema Arts Centre, and President of Uley Cricket Club.[2]
Political career
[edit]In July 2022, he replaced former Labour MP David Drew as the Labour Prospective parliamentary candidate for Stroud. Since the July 2024 General Election, he has served as the Member of Parliament for Stroud, having unseated Tory incumbent Siobhan Baillie.[3][4] Opher polled 25,607 votes to Baillie's 14,219.
Simon made his maiden speech on 5th September 2024 in a debate on renewable energy. He has since spoken in both Westminster Hall and the Commons Chamber on a range of issues including energy, maternity services, dentistry, bus services and salt marshes.[5]
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 backing 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”.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Members Sworn". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 752. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 10 July 2024.
- ^ Loveridge, Ashley (16 November 2022). "All you need to know about Stroud's Labour Party candidate | Stroud Times". Stroud Times. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Stroud | General Election 2024". Sky News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Stroud - General election results 2024". BBC News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Houses of Parliament. "Hansard". Hansard. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Medic MPs urge support for assisted dying bill". BBC News. 1 November 2024.
External links
[edit]
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Voting record at Public Whip
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
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