Wera Hobhouse is the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, having first been elected to Parliament in 2017. She was re-elected in the 2019 General Election with a majority of 12,322 over the Conservative Party.
The seat of Bath is focussed heavily around the Somerset Roman spa town of Bath. Home to Bath University and Bath Spa University it has a student population in excess of 15,000. Once represented by the Conservative Cabinet Minister, Chris Pattern, Bath had a history of being a Liberal Democrat – Conservative swing seat at Westminster. It now looks like a far safer Liberal Democrat constituency. Some 68.3% supported Remain in the 2016 EU referendum.
Hobhouse is the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Justice, and the Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House of Commons..
Born in 1960 in Hanover, Wera Hobhouse studied History and Fine Art at the University of Munster and later completed a master’s degree in History and Fine Art in Berlin. She recalls celebrating in Berlin on the night that the Berlin Wall came down. Hobhouse moved to Britain in 1990, living initially in Liverpool, before moving to Rochdale in 1999.
Prior to her political career, Hobhouse worked as a language teacher, radio journalist and as an artist.
A former Conservative, she was elected as a Conservative councillor to Rochdale District Council in Lancashire. However she later defected to the Liberal Democrats becoming the Liberal Democrat Group leader on the Council.
At Westminster Hobhouse is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Eating Disorders. She is Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Future Generations, Mental Health, Tibet, and Climate Change.
Hobhouse is married with four adult children.
Email – wera.hobhouse.mp@parliament.uk
Website – https://www.werahobhouse.co.uk/
Twitter – @Wera_Hobhouse
