Matt Bishop (politician)

Matthew Bishop is a British Labour Party politician who has been Member of Parliament for the Forest of Dean since the 2024 United Kingdom general election.

Bishop was born in Newport, South Wales and brought up in his teens by his grandparents. He joined the police force aged 18 and served in three constabularies, including the Metropolitan Police, until his policing career was curtailed by injury.

He was a Labour councillor on Forest of Dean District Council prior to the 2024 general election. He defeated the incumbent Mark Harper, the Secretary of State for Transport, who had held the Forest of Dean seat for the Conservative Party since 2005.

Early life and Education
Bishop was born and raised in Newport, South Wales where he had a working-class upbringing. He was educated at Lliswerry High School and Nash College.

Early Political Career
At the 2021 Gloucestershire County Council elections, Bishop contested the Coleford division seat of the Forest of Dean but came second to the incumbent Conservative Party County Councillor Carole Allaway-Martin; Bishop won 26% of the vote.

At the 2023 Forest of Dean local elections, Bishop contested the Cinderford East ward where two district councillors would be elected. Bishop came second to the incumbent and co Labour candidate, Di Martin meaning they were both elected. Constituents were allowed to vote for two candidates and Bishop took 55.6% of the vote. Of the wards where more than 3 candidates stood, Bishop achieved the second highest share individually. Bishop was also elected to Cinderford Town Council during the same elections.

During his time as a district councillor, Bishop held several roles including Chair of the Audit Committee, followed by Chair of the Scrutiny Committee. He was Chief Whip and Chair of the Group between April 2023 & April 2024 when he took over as Labour Group Leader.

Following his election success at the 2024 General Election, Bishop resigned his positions on the group but remains a Councillor.

Parliamentary Career
At the 2024 General Election, Bishop contested the Gloucestershire seat of Forest of Dean. It was a tight contest but Bishop was the eventual winner and was elected for the Labour Party with a majority of 278. Bishop won 34% of the vote. He defeated the Conservative member Mark Harper who was, at the time of the election, the Secretary of State for Transport. Harper had been the Forest of Dean MP since 2005.