William Paul Forster is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Woking 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 since 2009.
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.
From 2016 to the present day, Forster has continued to served as a councillor for Hoe Valley.
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.
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 election campaign.
At the July 2024 general election, Forster defeated the incumbent Conservative 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, Toffee.
References
External links
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
