Will Forster | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament for Woking | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Lord |
| Majority | 11,246 (23.4%) |
| Liberal Democrat portfolios | |
| 2025–present | Immigration and Asylum |
| Mayor of Woking | |
| In office 17 May 2018 – 16 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Graham Cundy |
| Succeeded by | Beryl Hunwicks |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1986 (age 38–39) |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Residence(s) | Woking Park, Surrey, England |
William Paul Forster[1][2] is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Woking since 2024.
Early life
[edit]Forster 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]
Political career
[edit]Forster served as a councillor for Woking South on Surrey County Council continuously from 2009 until standing down in July 2025, following his election as Woking's MP.[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. Forster continued to serve as a councillor for Hoe Valley from 2016 until standing down in July 2025.[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]
At the July 2024 general election, Forster defeated the incumbent Conservative to become Woking's first Liberal Democrat MP.[8][9]
On Thursday 10 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."[10]
Personal life
[edit]
Forster previously lived in Westfield, and now lives near Woking Park with his long-haired dachshund, Toffee.[3]
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.
- ^ "Will Forster - Woking". www.libdems.org.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
- ^ "UK Parliament election results: Election for the constituency of Woking on 4 July 2024". UK Parliament election results. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
- ^ Thorne, Lucy; Staff, Rhiannon James and Harry Taylor PA Political (11 October 2024). "Rail travel a 'luxury' many can no longer afford, says new Surrey MP". Surrey Live. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
External links
[edit]
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
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