Michael Peter Martin is a British politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Tunbridge Wells since 2024. A member of the Liberal Democrats, he gained the seat vacated by the Conservative Greg Clark, who stood down at the 2024 election. Martin defeated Clark's successor candidate, Neil Mahapatra, by 23,661 votes to 14,974.[1] Martin identifies as pro-European, internationalist, "explicitly pro-green", and as being in favour of a strong stance on defence.[2] He is an ex-soldier, military strategist, and author.
Mike Martin | |
|---|---|
| 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 | Hampton School University of Oxford (BA) King's College London (Ph.D.) |
| Website | https://mike-martin.co.uk/ |
| Academic background | |
| Thesis | War on its Head: An Oral History of the Helmandi Conflict 1978-2012 (2013) |
Early life and education
editMartin has an undergraduate degree in biological sciences from the University of Oxford.[3] He has a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in war studies from King's College London, which he completed in 2013 with a doctoral 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
editOn 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 commissioned a book from him about the War in Afghanistan, but he resigned from the British Army in 2014 so as to publish the critical account without interference from the MOD.[12]
Political career
editIn February 2023, Martin was selected to be the Liberal Democrat candidate for Tunbridge Wells.[13] In the 2024 general election, he was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tunbridge Wells with 23,661 votes (43.6%) and a majority of 8,687 over the second place Conservative candidate.[14]
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- ^ "Tunbridge Wells | General Election 2024". Sky News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ 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.co.uk. Mike Martin (Liberal Democrats). 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
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