Steve Witherden
Steve Witherden is a British Labour Party politician who has served as Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr since 2024 [United Kingdom general election|2024]. Ideologically on the left, he is a member of the Socialist Campaign Group.
Early life and career
Witherden was born in Wrexham, Wales. He earned a degree in English Literature from the University of Wales, Lampeter, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.Witherden worked as a teacher in his constituency for 18 years. He also served as a trade union representative from 2009 and as a county officer from 2015.
Witherden is dyslexic and dyscalculic, and was illiterate until the age of 11. These experiences led him to become a teacher.
Political career
Witherden won the Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr seat with a majority of 3,815 votes. The former Montgomeryshire MP, Craig Williams, finished third. In his victory speech, Witherden stated that "Montgomeryshire is the only seat in Wales that had never had a Labour MP so history has been made here tonight".In his maiden speech, Witherden cited the creation of Great British Energy and the elimination of zero-hour contracts as his priorities.
He sits on the Welsh Affairs Select Committee in Parliament.
In November 2024, Witherden voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, a proposal to legalise Assisted suicide in [the United Kingdom|assisted suicide].
Witherden opposes the governments proposed welfare benefits reforms.