Helen Maguire
Helen Elaine Maguire is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has been Member of Parliament for Epsom and Ewell since 2024. Before entering politics, Maguire served in the British Army with the Royal Military Police and worked as a fundraiser and fitness instructor.
Early life and career
Maguire studied French and German at university. She gained her officer's commission from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. A former Captain in the Royal Military Police, she served in Bosnia on a Stabilisation Force mission, and in Iraq to help rebuild the Iraqi Police and provide on-the-ground counter-insurgency policing support to infantry.After leaving the army, Maguire worked as a personal fitness instructor and founded a fitness company. She became a chartered fundraiser in 2016 and later ran a fundraising consultancy business.
Maguire received the British Empire Medal in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to the community in Claygate, Surrey (in the neighbouring constituency of Esher and Walton. She lives in Surrey with her husband and 3 children.
Parliamentary career
Maguire won the seat of Epsom and Ewell in the 2024 general election with 20,674 votes, gaining a majority of 3,686 over the second-placed Conservative candidate. The seat had previously been held by Conservative Chris Grayling, who had announced in October 2023 that he would not stand for re-election.On 18 September, Maguire was appointed by Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey as the party spokesperson for Defence as part of his Frontbench Team.