My name is Gareth Bacon, and I am proud to be the Member of Parliament for Orpington.

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I was born in Hong Kong but was raised, went to school and still live in Sidcup with my wife and daughter, close to the boundary of the Orpington constituency.

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I took my Bachelors Degree at the University of Kent in 1996, before studying for a Masters Degree in European Politics at the same university the following year. The subject of my Master’s Degree dissertation was an examination of the democratic deficit in the European Union – I concluded that this was a problem that could not be resolved and that Britain would be better served by leaving the European Union. This forms much of the foundation for my support for Brexit.
 

After university, I worked in financial services before moving into financial recruitment, latterly as a Director of a large financial recruitment business.

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I was a London Assembly Member from 2008 until 2019, initially as a London-wide Member. I then represented the constituency of Bromley and Bexley, which includes Orpington, holding the Mayor to account and delivering for outer London.
 

On the Assembly, I led the GLA Conservatives and worked tirelessly to protect our green spaces, keep our communities safe, and ensure that every penny of taxpayers' money is spent well.
 

In the final 18 months of Boris Johnson's mayoralty, I served as Chairman of the London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority. This body oversaw the London Fire Brigade and co-ordinated the emergency planning work for London.
 

In 1998, I was elected to serve as a local councillor in the London Borough of Bexley. For a total of nine years, I served as a Cabinet Member in a number of positions including as Deputy Leader of the Council, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, and Cabinet Member for Environment and Public Realm.

I was elected as the Member of Parliament for Orpington on 12 December 2019, and re-elected on 4 July 2024. I am proud to have been a strong voice for Orpington in Parliament and I have worked tirelessly to deliver for this beautiful part of historic Kent.

 

Yours, Gareth Bacon