Alex Brewer (politician)

Alexandra Katherine Brewer[1] is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for North East Hampshire since 2024.

Alex Brewer
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for North East Hampshire
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded byRanil Jayawardena
Majority634 (1.1%)
Personal details
Political partyLiberal Democrats

Career

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Before becoming an MP, Brewer ran Stepping Stones DS, a children's charity within her constituency that provides support to children with Down Syndrome, their families, and the professionals involved in their care. She also formerly ran a women's refuge, and has experience working in the business sector in the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and Australia.[2][3]

Parliamentary career

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Brewer was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for North East Hampshire at the 2024 general election, defeating the incumbent Conservative MP Ranil Jayawardena with 38.1 per cent of the vote and a majority of 634. She is both the first woman and the first Liberal Democrat to ever represent the constituency.[4]

In her maiden speech, Brewer delivered a narrative tour of North East Hampshire; individually mentioning several towns and villages by name, noting features and characteristics of the local area and community, and describing the key issues faced by her constituents.[5]

In an interview with the Basingstoke Gazette, Brewer stated that her political priorities were to improve the NHS, to resolve the sewage crisis, and to provide better services for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).[6]

In September 2024, Brewer strongly criticised, and voted to block, the government's plans to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment, writing that she was "extremely concerned about those on low incomes",[7] and could not condone the decision "to further add to the burden faced by some of the most vulnerable people in our society, especially during a cost-of-living crisis."[8]

On the 25th of October 2024, Brewer announced that she had been elected to the House of Commons Select Committee for Women and Equalities.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "No. 64465". The London Gazette. 22 July 2024. p. 14086.
  2. ^ "Meet Alex Brewer". Hart Lib Dems. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Alex Brewer - Candidate for North East Hampshire". Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  4. ^ "4 July 2024: Election results". Hart District Council. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Alex Brewer MP's Maiden Speech". Hart Lib Dems. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  6. ^ "North East Hampshire MP vows to fight for NHS, environment and SEN services". Basingstoke Gazette. 22 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  7. ^ Brewer, Alex (11 September 2024). "Alex Brewer MP Statement on the Winter Fuel Allowance". Facebook. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  8. ^ "North East Hampshire MP to vote against cuts to winter fuel allowance". Basingstoke Gazette. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  9. ^ Brewer, Alex (25 October 2024). "Elected to the Women and Equalities Select Committee". Retrieved 28 October 2024.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for North East Hampshire

2024–present
Incumbent