Alison Bennett

Alison Bennett
MP
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for Mid Sussex
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded byMims Davies
Majority6,662 (12.5%)
Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Care and Carers
In office
18 September 2024 – 5 October 2026
LeaderEd Davey
Succeeded byClive Jones
Member of Mid Sussex District Council for Hurstpierpoint
Hurstpierpoint and Downs (2019–2023)
In office
6 May 2019 – 7 May 2026
Personal details
PartyLiberal Democrats
EducationUniversity of Cambridge

Alison Elizabeth Bennett is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid Sussex since 2024.

Education and career

Bennett was privately educated at The King's School, Gloucester, and Newnham College, Cambridge, graduating in 1999 with a degree in social and political sciences. Bennett worked for British Airways and then E.ON.

Political career

Bennett contested Arundel and South Downs for the Liberal Democrats at the 2019 general election, coming second to the Conservative candidate Andrew Griffith.

She served as a member of Mid Sussex District Council, representing the wards of Hurstpierpoint and Downs from 2019 to 2023 and Hurstpierpoint from 2023. Bennett was the council's deputy leader when she was selected to stand in the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 General Election, she was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid Sussex with 39.6% of the vote, becoming the first Liberal Democrat MP for the constituency since its creation in 1974.[citation needed]

Bennett was appointed the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for care and carers in September 2024. In the role, Bennett campaigned for better support for unpaid carers in the UK. In October 2026, Bennett resigned her post, amid criticism of Ed Davey’s leadership. However Bennett did not publish her reasons for stepping down.

References

  1. ↑ "Congregations of the Regent House on 25 and 26 June 1999". Cambridge University Reporter. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  2. ↑ Alison E Bennett on LinkedIn
  3. ↑ Self, Josh (7 March 2024). "Will Blur drummer Dave Rowntree win for Labour in Mid Sussex?". Politics.co.uk. Politics.co.uk. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  4. ↑ "Election 2019 | Arundel & South Downs parliamentary constituency". BBC News. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  5. ↑ "Councillor Alison Bennett". Mid Sussex District Council. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "Alison Bennett | stood for election 5 times". Who Can I Vote For?. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  7. ↑ Smith, Lawrence (27 June 2024). "Liberal Democrat Party Parliamentary candidate for Mid Sussex Alison Bennett reveals priorities: fixing the NHS, improving education and creating a society 'where people can be themselves'". Sussex Express. National World. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  8. ↑ "Sussex Mid Sussex | Lib Dem GAIN from Con". Sky News. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  9. ↑ "Alison Bennett MP". Politics UK. Retrieved 29 October 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ↑ "'More support needed for unpaid carers,' Mid Sussex MP urges government". BBC News. 16 October 2026. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  11. ↑ "Lib Dem MP quits frontbench job over Ed Davey's leadership". BBC News. 9 October 2026. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  12. ↑ "Alison Bennett's Monday Mail: Sisu". www.midsussexlibdems.org.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2026.