THE BRIDGE INTERVIEW WITH CHARLIE MAYNARD MP

The Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope, a seasoned observer of politics, wrote that “When a man lays himself out to be a member of Parliament, he plays the highest game and for the highest stakes which the country affords.” In July last year Charlie Maynard played that game and achieved a striking win, turning a Conservative majority of 15,177 into a Liberal Democrat one of 4,339, albeit in a seat with much-changed boundaries.

When we met Charlie Maynard just before Christmas, he had had a particularly busy six months or so learning about the many facets of his new role while simultaneously recruiting his team. He points out that it takes time to find staff (typically between three and five) to help with research, legislation, constituency business and general administration. But the emails and demands on time that go with the job start on day one. That may sound like a recipe for exhaustion but we found him bubbling with enthusiasm and new ideas.

First, a bit of background. Charlie was born in Southampton and brought up there and in north Hampshire. His family has a strong tradition of service in the armed forces. Several have won medals, including a Victoria Cross,for bravery, but Charlie did not feel any pressure to follow that career. His education was interrupted by breaking his neck in a diving accident leading to six months in hospital. He studied geography at Christ Church, Oxford, and at the age of 25 he started his own business, BDA Partners, which advised on buying companies in Asia and latterly on selling them. He built this up until it had nine offices, seven of them in Asia.

By this time he had made his home near Witney. His wife, Sophie, runs the fivebooks.com website on which a wide range of experts recommend the best reading matter on their particular areas of expertise. They have three children aged 18,17 and 16. He says he had not planned to enter public life but was propelled to do so by Brexit, which he had opposed. He accepted the democratic decision to leave the EU but wished to do something to mitigate the adverse effects of it. Rather than stepping straight into party politics, he began by chairing the Witney-Oxford Transport Group (more on this below). In 2022 he was elected as a Liberal Democrat district councillor for the Standlake, Aston and Stanton Harcourt ward. Then came the opportunity to be selected as Lib Dem candidate for the election which was expected in 2024. There were four others on the shortlist, but Charlie was the only local one. He tried to see every Lib Dem party member in the constituency and was selected with 80 percent of their votes. The general election followed.

He had never set foot inside the Houses of Parliament before he was elected as a member. He finds some of the procedures archaic and the work is very hard. His working day often runs from 6am to 10pm, though not all of it while sitting in front of a computer, but says his career in mergers and acquisitions inured him to long hours.

He has been busy since taking his seat, asking a number of questions in the House of Commons, including one of the prime minister about post-Brexit rules, and speaking on the Water (Special Measures) Bill. He initiated a debate in Westminster Hall (a secondary chamber with no legislative powers but where issues can be raised) about rail connectivity. He is a member of the cross-party Business and Trade Committee and is on the standing committee tasked with scrutinising the Water Bill.

In his maiden speech, which can be viewed on X/Twitter @cammaynard, he listed a number of issues which are of particular concern to him. You might think that there is little that a backbench MP from a minority party can do when faced by a huge government majority. However there are things that he can campaign for outside of parliament by bringing together different interest groups. One of his concerns is transport. He points out that the government is now telling West Oxfordshire that it must build the best part of 1,000 new homes every year and that these will be scattered around the district but with no improvements to the transport infrastructure. As a result the A40 is regularly jammed (don’t we know it?). The Eynsham park and ride, even when it opens, will only take a few hundred cars off the road. His solution would be to reopen the defunct Carterton-Witney-Eynsham-Oxford railway. He recognises that this will never be paid for out of government funds so he is developing other plans to meet the cost.

Allied to this is the question of healthcare. Secondary healthcare is concentrated on the far side of Oxford and is difficult to get to because of the aforementioned traffic problems. He would like to see the area around Welch Way in Witney, where there are various public service buildings, redeveloped so that the Community Hospital could be rebuilt and expanded to provide outpatient services and non-acute care within our area. At the same time Abingdon and Witney College could be expanded to make more further education opportunities available in our locality.

Another subject on which he is campaigning is to stop Thames Water from pumping sewage into our rivers. On this he has joined forces with Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP) who have been fighting this battle for years.

A major event during Charlie’s first months in Parliament was the debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, otherwise known as the Assisted Dying bill. Knowing the strong feelings either way which exist on this subject, he called a public meeting with a panel of experts who encompass a wide range of views. In fact there was so much interest that the Corn Exchange in Witney was packed out and quite a few people (including the editors) could not get in. After considering all the opinions expressed, he decided to vote for the bill on the grounds that it should be developed further through the legislative process. He will decide whether he will ultimately vote for it to became law with particular reference to whether he feels the safeguarding measures are adequate. He said the debate itself was very impressive, with both sides listening respectfully to their opponents’ arguments; Parliament at its best, far removed from the yah- booing of PMQs.

Editors

Charlie Maynard holds a weekly online surgery for constituents and you can book a slot at one of these by emailing charlie.maynard.mp@parliament.uk