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William Paul Forster is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for
Woking Woking ( ) is a town and borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in north-west Surrey, England, around from central London. It appears in Domesday Book as ''Wochinges'', and its name probably derives from that of a Anglo-Saxon settleme ...
since 2024.


Early life

Forster grew up in Goldsworth Park and Horsell. He attended Horsell Church of England Junior School, Woking High School, and Woking College.


Political career

Forster has served as a councillor for Woking South on
Surrey County Council Surrey County Council is the county council for the non-metropolitan county of Surrey, England. The council is composed of 81 elected councillors, and in all but one election since 1974 the Conservative Party has held the majority. The leader ...
since 2009. He served as a councillor for Kingfield and Westfield on
Woking Borough Council Woking Borough Council is the local authority for Woking in Surrey, England. The council consists of 30 councillors, three for each of the 10 wards in the town. It is currently controlled by the Liberal Democrats, led by Ann-Marie Barker. The ...
from 2011 until the seat was re-named Hoe Valley in 2016. From 2016 to the present day, Forster has continued to serve as a councillor for Hoe Valley. Forster was the Liberal Democrat candidate for the constituency of
Woking Woking ( ) is a town and borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in north-west Surrey, England, around from central London. It appears in Domesday Book as ''Wochinges'', and its name probably derives from that of a Anglo-Saxon settleme ...
in the 2019 general election, having been selected to contest the previous election in 2017. From 2018 to 2019, Forster served as Mayor of Woking. 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 In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
election campaign. At the July 2024 general election, Forster defeated the incumbent
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
to become Woking's first Liberal Democrat MP. 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."


Personal life

Forster previously lived in Westfield, and now lives near Woking Park with his long-haired
dachshund The dachshund ( or ; German: 'badger dog'), also known as the wiener dog or sausage dog, badger dog, doxen and doxie, is a short-legged, long-bodied, hound-type dog breed. The dog may be smooth-haired, wire-haired, or long-haired, with varie ...
, Toffee.


References


External links

* Living people 1986 births Mayors of places in Surrey Members of Surrey County Council Liberal Democrats (UK) councillors Liberal Democrats (UK) MPs for English constituencies People from Woking UK councillors 2009–2013 UK councillors 2013–2017 UK councillors 2017–2021 UK councillors 2021–2025 UK councillors 2011–2015 UK councillors 2015–2019 UK councillors 2016–2021 UK councillors 2021–2024 UK councillors 2024–2028 UK MPs 2024–present {{England-UK-MP-stub