William Paul Forster[1] [2] is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Woking since 2024.
Will Forster | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament for Woking | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Lord |
| Majority | 11,246 (23.4%) |
| Mayor of Woking | |
| In office 17 May 2018 – 16 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Graham Cundy |
| Succeeded by | Beryl Hunwicks |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
Personal life
editForster grew up in Goldsworth Park and Horsell. He attended Horsell Church of England Junior School, Woking High School, and Woking College.[3][non-primary source needed]
Forster previously lived in Westfield and now lives near Woking Park with his long-haired dachshund, Toffee.[3]
Political Career
editForster has served as a councillor for Woking South on Surrey County Council since 2009.[4]
He served as a councillor for Kingfield and Westfield on Woking Borough Council from 2011 until the seat was re-named Hoe Valley in 2016.
From 2016 to the present day, Forster has continued to served as a councillor for Hoe Valley. [5]
Forster was the Liberal Democrat candidate for the constituency of Woking in the 2019 general election, having been selected to contest the previous election in 2017.[2]
From 2018 to 2019, Forster served as Mayor of Woking.[6]
Forster worked as ALDC Regional Development Officer from October 2018 until May 2022.
Between May 2022 and July 2024, Forster worked for the Liberal Democrats as a Campaign Manager for the South East, stepping down to pursue his successful parliamentary election campaign.[7]
On Thursday the 10th October, 2024, Forster held his first adjournment debate in parliament to look at the rising cost of rail fares. Forster labelled rail travel as a luxury that many can no longer afford and called on the Government to implement a freeze on rail fares, stating that commuters are "ironically risking debt to make a living."
During this debate, Forster broke decades of parliamentary convention by encouraging the participation of additional MP's from the Liberal Democrat benches, as opposed to the usual back and forth between the Minister responding to the MP leading the debate.
References
edit- ^ "No. 64465". The London Gazette. 22 July 2024. p. 14086.
- ^ a b "Declaration of Result of Poll: Election of a Member of Parliament for Woking" (PDF). Woking Borough Council. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ a b "About Me". Will Forster. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Surrey County Council Election Results 1973-2009" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "Woking Borough Council Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "Past Mayors". Woking Borough Council. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "Will Foster - Registered Interests". members.parliament.uk.
External links
edit
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
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