Mike Martin (British politician)
Mike Martin | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament for Tunbridge Wells | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Greg Clark |
| Majority | 8,687 (16.0%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Peter Martin |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Alma mater |
|
| Website | mike-martin |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army[a] |
| Years of service | 2004-2014 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Royal Yeomanry Intelligence Corps |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan |
| Academic background | |
| Thesis | War on its Head: An Oral History of the Helmandi Conflict 1978–2012 (2013) |
Michael Peter Martin[1] is a British politician, author and former Army Reserve officer, who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Tunbridge Wells since 2024. A member of the Liberal Democrats, he gained the seat vacated by Greg Clark, the Conservative MP who stood down at the 2024 election. Martin identifies as pro-European, internationalist, "explicitly pro-green", and as being in favour of a strong stance on defence.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Martin, who was privately educated, has an undergraduate degree in biological sciences from the University of Oxford[3] and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in war studies from King's College London, which he completed in 2013 with a thesis titled "War on its Head: An Oral History of the Helmandi Conflict 1978-2012".[4]
As of 2024, he is a senior visiting research fellow at King's College London.[3]
Military service
[edit]On 1 August 2004, Martin was commissioned into the General List of the Territorial Army as a second lieutenant (on probation).[5] On 26 November 2006, he transferred to the Royal Yeomanry.[6] His commission was confirmed on 26 November 2006 with seniority in the rank of second lieutenant from 26 November 2005.[7] He was promoted to lieutenant on 26 November 2007.[8] He was promoted to captain on 22 April 2010 with seniority from 15 June 2009.[9] He transferred to the Intelligence Corps on 19 August 2013.[10]
Martin served multiple tours in Helmand Province during the War in Afghanistan.[11] The Ministry of Defence (MOD) commissioned a book from him about the war, but he resigned from the British Army in 2014 after a dispute over the book so he could publish the critical account without interference from the MOD.[12]
Political career
[edit]In February 2023, Martin was selected to be the Liberal Democrat candidate for Tunbridge Wells.[13] In the 2024 general election, he was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Tunbridge Wells with 43.6 per cent of the vote and a majority of 8,687 over the second-placed Conservative candidate.[14] He was the first non-Conservative to win the constituency since it was first contested in February 1974.
Selected works
[edit]- Martin, Mike (2014). An intimate war: an oral history of the Helmand conflict, 1978-2012. London: C Hurst & Company. ISBN 978-1849043366.
- Martin, Mike; Baker, Chloe; Hatch-Barnwell, Charlie (2016). Crossing the Congo: over land and water in a hard place. London: Hurst & Company. ISBN 978-1849046855.
- Martin, Mike (2018). Why we fight. London: Hurst & Company. ISBN 978-1849048897.
- Martin, Mike (2023). How to fight a war. London: Hurst & Company. ISBN 978-1787389304.
References
[edit]- ^ Territorial Army, later called the Army Reserve
- ^ "No. 64465". The London Gazette. 22 July 2024. p. 14085.
- ^ Boyd, Milo (2024-07-03). "Conservatives on brink of big loss in royal town once the heart of Tory Britain". The Mirror. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ a b "Dr Mike Martin". King's College London. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ Martin, Michael Peter (2013). War on its Head: An Oral History of the Helmandi Conflict 1978-2012 (PhD thesis). King's College London. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ "No. 57699". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 July 2005. p. 9016.
- ^ "No. 58387". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 July 2007. p. 9905.
- ^ "No. 59216". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 October 2009. p. 17989.
- ^ "No. 59223". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 October 2009. p. 18435.
- ^ "No. 59465". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 June 2010. p. 11697.
- ^ "No. 60840". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 April 2014. p. 7614.
- ^ "Mike Martin". Mike Martin. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ MacAskill, Ewen (9 April 2014). "Territorial Army captain resigns over Afghanistan book". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ "Lib Dem Mike Martin Bids to Become Local MP". Southborough News. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ "Tunbridge Wells – General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
External links
[edit]
- Official website
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
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- Living people
- Academics of King's College London
- Alumni of King's College London
- Alumni of the University of Oxford
- British Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- Liberal Democrats (UK) MPs for English constituencies
- Royal Yeomanry officers
- UK MPs 2024–present
- Intelligence Corps officers
- UK MP for England stubs