Mike Martin (British politician)

Mike Martin
MP
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for Tunbridge Wells
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded byGreg Clark
Majority8,687 (16.0%)
Personal details
Born
Michael Peter Martin
Political partyLiberal Democrats
Alma mater
Websitemike-martin.co.uk
Military service
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Branch/serviceBritish Army[a]
Years of service2004-2014
RankCaptain
UnitRoyal Yeomanry
Intelligence Corps
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan
Academic background
ThesisWar on its Head: An Oral History of the Helmandi Conflict 1978–2012 (2013)

Michael Peter Martin[1] is a British politician, author and former Army Reserve officer, who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Tunbridge Wells since 2024. A member of the Liberal Democrats, he gained the seat vacated by Greg Clark, the Conservative MP who stood down at the 2024 election. Martin identifies as pro-European, internationalist, "explicitly pro-green", and as being in favour of a strong stance on defence.[2]

Early life and education

Martin, who was privately educated, has an undergraduate degree in biological sciences from the University of Oxford[3] and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in war studies from King's College London, which he completed in 2013 with a 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

On 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 (MOD) commissioned a book from him about the war, but he resigned from the British Army in 2014 after a dispute over the book so he could publish the critical account without interference from the MOD.[12]

Political career

In February 2023, Martin was selected to be the Liberal Democrat candidate for Tunbridge Wells.[13] In the 2024 general election, he was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Tunbridge Wells with 43.6 per cent of the vote and a majority of 8,687 over the second-placed Conservative candidate.[14] He was the first non-Conservative to win the constituency since it was first contested in February 1974.

Selected works

  • 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

  1. ^ Territorial Army, later called the Army Reserve
  1. ^ "No. 64465". The London Gazette. 22 July 2024. p. 14085.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b "Dr Mike Martin". King's College London. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "No. 57699". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 July 2005. p. 9016.
  6. ^ "No. 58387". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 July 2007. p. 9905.
  7. ^ "No. 59216". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 October 2009. p. 17989.
  8. ^ "No. 59223". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 October 2009. p. 18435.
  9. ^ "No. 59465". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 June 2010. p. 11697.
  10. ^ "No. 60840". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 April 2014. p. 7614.
  11. ^ "Mike Martin". Mike Martin. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  12. ^ MacAskill, Ewen (9 April 2014). "Territorial Army captain resigns over Afghanistan book". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Lib Dem Mike Martin Bids to Become Local MP". Southborough News. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Tunbridge Wells – General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
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