Jonathan Lord
Jonathan Lord (born 1962) is a British Conservative politician who served as Member of Parliament for Woking from 2010 until losing his seat in the 2024 general election.[1][2] Educated at Shrewsbury School and Merton College, Oxford, where he read History, Lord entered politics after a career in advertising and marketing, including as a director at Saatchi & Saatchi.[2][3] He previously served as a Westminster City Councillor and Deputy Leader from 1994 to 2002, and as a Surrey County Councillor from 2009 to 2011.[2] Elected to Parliament in 2010, he was re-elected in subsequent general elections, including 2019 with a majority of 9,767 votes, before the constituency shifted to Liberal Democrat control in 2024.[1][2] During his tenure, Lord chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Egypt and held vice-chair positions in groups focused on immigration law and policy, longevity, sixth form education, and the Isle of Man.[2] A supporter of Brexit, he backed Dominic Raab in the 2019 Conservative leadership contest and contributed to debates on local issues affecting Woking, such as infrastructure and economic development.[2][4] His parliamentary record reflects consistent alignment with Conservative positions on economic policy and immigration, with occasional independent votes on select issues.[5]Early life and education
Upbringing and family origins
Jonathan George Caladine Lord was born on 17 September 1962, the son of John Herent Lord, a circuit judge on the Northern Circuit who later retired, and his wife, June Ann Lord (née Caladine).[6][7] His father's judicial career, including service as Recorder of the Crown Court, placed the family within England's legal establishment, reflecting a background emphasizing discipline and public service.[8] Lord's early upbringing occurred in this professional milieu, fostering an environment conducive to formal education. He attended Shrewsbury School, a leading independent boarding school in Shropshire, from 1975 to 1980. During this period, he participated in an exchange scholarship year at Kent School, a preparatory institution in Connecticut, USA, broadening his exposure beyond British norms.[3]Academic achievements
Lord attended Shrewsbury School, a public school in Shropshire, England, for his secondary education.[3] He subsequently received a scholarship to Kent School, a private boarding school in Connecticut, United States.[3] Lord matriculated at Merton College, University of Oxford, where he read history.[2] He graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the subject.[2] During his undergraduate studies, he was elected president of the Oxford University Conservative Association for Michaelmas Term 1983.[9]Pre-parliamentary career
Professional experience
Prior to entering politics, Jonathan Lord pursued a career in advertising, marketing, and technology.[2][3] He served as a director at the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi for two years, contributing to the firm's operations in these sectors.[6][10] This role followed his graduation from Oxford in 1985 and preceded his involvement in local government and parliamentary selection.[2]Local government involvement
Prior to his parliamentary career, Lord served as a Conservative councillor on Westminster City Council from 1994 to 2002, representing the Little Venice ward.[2] During this period, he held the position of deputy leader of the council from 1998 to 2000.[2] In this role, he contributed to local governance in central London, including oversight of policy areas aligned with Conservative priorities at the time, such as urban management and community services.[11] Lord later entered local politics in Surrey, winning election as a Conservative member of Surrey County Council for the Cranleigh and Ewhurst division in June 2009, succeeding Cyril Baily.[12] His tenure lasted until May 2011, coinciding with his successful campaign and election as MP for Woking in the 2010 general election.[2] In July 2009, he was appointed vice-chairman of the Waverley Local Committee, where he participated in deliberations on regional issues affecting Waverley borough, including infrastructure and community matters.[13] This brief stint on the county council focused on rural and semi-rural concerns in southeast Surrey, bridging his prior Westminster experience with constituency-level representation in his prospective parliamentary area.[2]Parliamentary elections and tenure
2010 election and re-elections until 2019
Jonathan Lord was selected as the Conservative Party candidate for Woking through an open primary in September 2009, part of the party's experimental approach to candidate selection at the time.[3] In the 2010 general election held on 6 May, Lord won the seat with 26,551 votes (50.3% of the valid vote), defeating Liberal Democrat Rosie Sharpley (19,744 votes, 37.4%) and Labour's Tom Miller (4,246 votes, 8.0%), securing a majority of 6,807 on a turnout of 71.5% from an electorate of 73,837.[14] [15] Lord was re-elected in subsequent general elections, with his majorities fluctuating amid national political shifts. The table below summarizes the results for Woking constituency from 2010 to 2019:| Election Date | Conservative Votes (% Share) | Majority | Turnout (%) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 May 2010 | 26,551 (50.3%) | 6,807 | 71.5 | Initial win over Liberal Democrats.[14] |
| 7 May 2015 | Majority over second place | 20,810 | 70.0 | Significant increase in margin.[16] |
| 8 June 2017 | Majority over second place | 16,724 | 72.5 | Retained amid tighter national race.[17] |
| 12 December 2019 | 26,396 (48.9%) | 9,767 | 71.5 | Narrower margin against Liberal Democrats (16,629 votes, 30.8%).[18] [19] |