Martin Saunders

Statement to voters

Martin has lived within the constituency in Etchingham for the last 15 years with his wife, Jennifer. He is a solicitor and a former partner in an international law firm. He was educated at a comprehensive school in south east London before reading law at Oxford. Martin has a strong commitment to Liberal values and has always been concerned about environmental issues. He is a trustee of the RSPB and volunteers with conservation work at local nature reserves in Crowhurst and Tudeley. He is also a trustee of the Rother District Citizens Advice Bureau. He has supported campaigns on local issues and has represented residents in planning proceedings. Martin says: "This is a wonderful corner of England and we must preserve the beauty and character of this special place. We must also not forget that there are areas of deprivation here. Far more needs to be done to improve public services and invest in education and training." In the 2016 Referendum Martin campaigned for Remain. Like many others, he joined the Liberal Democrats after the Referendum. He and the Liberal Democrats remain committed to stopping Brexit. Bexhill and Battle Liberal Democrats had strong results in the District Council elections in May and now share power as part of the Rother Alliance. In the European Parliament elections they came second in the area as the leading party of Remain (behind the Brexit Party). Martin says: "On Brexit, Huw Merriman is less extreme than some of his colleagues. He has however now adopted some of the ugly anti-EU rhetoric that has fuelled our current crisis. Most tellingly, he recently tried to defend Boris Johnson's illegal decision to prorogue Parliament and criticised the Supreme Court for overturning it."

Election history

Westminster general elections