About Duncan

Our new MP, Duncan Hames has lived in Holt, near Melksham, for the past seven years. Living here, he understands the issues affecting our area and has a strong record of standing up for his fellow local residents.

Duncan has given up his business in order to be a full-time MP for our area. He will put you and your family first.

Over the last four years Duncan has worked to create new jobs in the green energy sector, here in the South West. He has experience from outside of politics to get the job done.

7 years of standing up for us

Fighting local cuts and closures

Over the past seven years Duncan Hames has stood up for local people against the raft of Labour cuts and closures which have plagued our area.

In 2006 Duncan campaigned against the NHS cuts in Chippenham and Melksham when Conservative councillors failed to act to stop them.

Duncan helped to save Winsley post office in 2008 and fought post office closures in Broughton Gifford, Corsham, Chippenham and Lacock. He secured national backing for the campaign to re-open Corsham station.

Investing in our schools

Education is a passion for Duncan who has served as a local school governor for over seven years – first in Westwood and now in Melksham.

Duncan, who was the first in his family to go to university, has campaigned against the tuition fees imposed by Labour. He is also working with other campaigners to get more nursery school places for our area.

Defending our green spaces

In 2008 and 2009, Duncan helped to fend off two planning applications to build on Bradford on Avon Golf Course. Duncan uncovered documents showing that Conservative District Councillors had made a secret deal to remove a protective covenant
from the land in return for the Council getting a slice of the profits.

Duncan is also working alongside residents to stop Conservative Wiltshire Council’s plans to build 3,000 houses around Chippenham – near the woods on Bird’s Marsh and alongside the flood plain. Duncan says the Council should stand up to
Labour’s imposed targets instead of meekly going along with them.

Biography

Duncan Hames is the new Member of Parliament for the Chippenham constituency that includes Bradford on Avon, Chippenham, Corsham, Melksham and surrounding villages.

Duncan was born in 1977 and grew up in Watford, Hertfordshire. He attended Watford Boys’ Grammar School and the University of Oxford where he studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics and graduated in 1998.

Duncan trained as an accountant with Deloitte. He moved to Wiltshire in 2002, became a local school governor, and was elected as a West Wiltshire district councillor in 2003. Duncan was also appointed to the board of the South West of England Regional Development Agency in the same year. He continues to serve as a school governor in Melksham.

In May 2010 Duncan was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Chippenham Constituency and in the process became Wiltshire’s first Liberal MP in 86 years.

In his spare time Duncan enjoys running. He recently ran the Chippenham Half Marathon to help raise funds for Parkinson’s Disease Society. In addition, he enjoys hill walking and takes a keen interest in genealogy.

Duncan’s main focus is to be a good constituency MP but he also takes an active interest in the Green Energy Sector and ensuring that all children have access to a good education.