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Lee Dillon

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Councillor
Lee Dillon
MP
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for Newbury
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded byLaura Farris
Majority2,337 (4.8%)
Leader of West Berkshire Council
In office
25 May 2023 – 30 April 2024
Preceded byLynne Doherty
Succeeded byJeff Brooks
Personal details
Born
Lee Raymond James Dillon

1983 (age 40–41)
Thatcham, England
Political partyLiberal Democrats
Websitewww.leedillon.co.uk

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.

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.

Early political career

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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]

Parliamentary career

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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]

Personal life

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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]

References

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  1. ^ "No. 64465". The London Gazette. 22 July 2024. p. 14086.
  2. ^ "Lee Dillon Elected as Newbury MP". West Berkshire and Newbury Liberal Democrats. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  3. ^ Seabrook, Alex (28 November 2019). "'Young but years of experience' – interview with Lib Dem candidate for Newbury". The Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Thatcham Town Council Election 2023 – Thursday, 4th May, 2023". West Berkshire Council. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  5. ^ "The Mayor". Thatcham Town Council. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  6. ^ Haji, Tanya (23 May 2011). "Lee Dillon elected mayor for second year". Newbury Today. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Thatcham North Ward – West Berkshire". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Thatcham North East Ward – West Berkshire". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  9. ^ "District Election 2023 – Thursday, 4th May, 2023". West Berkshire Council. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  10. ^ "West Berkshire result – Local Elections 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  11. ^ Zaccaro, Maria (5 May 2023). "Tories lose control of three Berkshire councils". BBC News. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Agenda and minutes: Annual Meeting, Council – Thursday, 25th May, 2023 7.00 pm". West Berkshire Council. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Changes to leadership at West Berkshire Council". West Berkshire Council. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  14. ^ Hinman, Niki (30 April 2024). "West Berkshire Council leader Lee Dillon quits to run as MP". BBC News. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Election 2005 | Results | Islwyn". BBC News. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Newbury parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Lee Dillon selected to fight Newbury constituency for Liberal Democrats at next election". West Berkshire and Newbury Liberal Democrats. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Newbury - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Former Lib Dem MP David Rendel dies after cancer battle". BBC News. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Newbury | General Election 2024". Sky News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  21. ^ a b c "Lee Dillon: MP for Newbury". West Berkshire and Newbury Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  22. ^ Hinman, Niki (19 June 2024). "Meet the candidates: Lee Dillon, Liberal Democrats". Newbury Today. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Newbury
2024–present 		Incumbent
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