Loading AI tools
British politician (born 1983) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lee Raymond James Dillon[1] (born 1983) is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Newbury since 2024, gaining the seat from the Conservative incumbent, Laura Farris.
Lee Dillon | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2024 | |
| 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 25 May 2023 – 30 April 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Lynne Doherty |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Brooks |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lee Raymond James Dillon 1983 (age 40–41) Thatcham, England |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Website | www |
Before entering Parliament, Dillon was a social housing senior manager. He served as the mayor of Thatcham from 2010 to 2012 and the leader of West Berkshire Council from 2023 to 2024.
Dillon describes David Rendel, a former Liberal Democrat MP for Newbury, as his political inspiration.[2]
Dillon was elected to Thatcham Town Council in 2007 and represents the ward of Thatcham North East.[3][4] He served two terms as mayor from 2010 to 2012, and was the town's youngest mayor when first elected at the age of 27.[5][6]
Dillon has served as a member of West Berkshire Council from 2007 to 2011 and since 2015, representing Thatcham North East and previously Thatcham North.[7][8][9] At the 2023 election, the Liberal Democrats assumed majority control of West Berkshire Council,[10][11] and Dillon was subsequently elected leader of the council on 25 May.[12] He took sabbatical leave from the role on 1 February 2024[13] before resigning as leader on 30 April to focus on his campaign for the forthcoming general election.[14]
Dillon first stood for election at the 2005 general election in Islwyn, coming third with 12.5 per cent of the vote.[15] He again stood for election in Newbury in the 2019 general election, coming second with 30.6 per cent.[16]
In 2023, Dillon was re-selected as the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Newbury.[17] He went on to win the constituency at the 2024 general election with 40.1 per cent of the vote, winning the seat for the Liberal Democrats for the first time since the 2001 general election.[18][19] He gained the seat from the Conservative incumbent, Laura Farris.[20]
Dillon grew up in Thatcham, where his family owns a local pub.[21] He has a wife and young children. His father was a trade union official.[21][22]
A keen football fan, he regularly takes his children to watch Reading F.C., and supports his local team, Thatcham Town F.C.[21]
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
