South West · England · 73,482Boundary · 2023

Melksham & Devizes

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Dispatch
Apr 2026

Won by LD in its first election in 2024 by 4.7%. Covers Melksham, Devizes and Bradford-on-Avon. Population 94,569, notably older (median age 47 vs 41 nationally). Recorded crime is 49% below the national average.

Elected in 2024, Brian Mathew made headlines in June 2025 by breaking with the Liberal Democrat majority on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill -- voting against Third Reading and against two amendments that would have closed the so-called "voluntary starvation loophole," while simultaneously backing two other amendments aimed at tightening safeguards. His votes place him notably further from his party on assisted dying than most Lib Dem colleagues, scoring 33 percentage points below the party average on the anti-assisted-dying measure. Beyond Westminster, he has been active locally: securing a parliamentary debate on the proposed closure of four Wiltshire fire stations, raising hospital capacity concerns in Melksham, and chairing stakeholder meetings with Network Rail to push for rail frequency improvements and new stations in his constituency.

At 63% voting participation, Mathew sits below the Commons average, though this is not unusual for newer MPs balancing constituency work. He votes with his party on 96.4% of divisions overall. His stance profile shows strong alignment with parliamentary scrutiny (100%), Lords scrutiny (95%), and climate action (86%), while he diverges sharply on workers' rights (25% aligned) and progressive taxation (0% aligned -- 20 points below his party average). His 113 contributions across 77 debates skew toward economy and jobs, defence, and environment. He sits on the International Development Committee, consistent with his reported background in international development.

308
Commons votes
This parliament
£29k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
73.5k
Electorate
2024 GE

A new constituency created in the 2023 boundary review.

Current Member of Parliament

Brian Mathew

Brian Mathew

Liberal Democrats

Brian Mathew is the Liberal Democrat MP for Melksham and Devizes, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024.

Notable Votes

Vote on whether to prevent someone from qualifying as 'terminally ill' under the assisted dying bill solely because they have chosen to stop eating and drinking. The amendment would close a potential loophole where a person who is not otherwise terminally ill could meet the bill's eligibility criteria by voluntarily starving themselves.

MP voted YesAgainst party majority

MPs voted on the Third Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill — the final Commons vote on whether to pass the assisted dying legislation in its amended form. Passing Third Reading sends the Bill to the House of Lords.

MP voted NoAgainst party majority

Vote on whether to prevent someone from qualifying as 'terminally ill' under the assisted dying bill solely because they have voluntarily stopped eating and drinking. The amendment aimed to close a potential loophole where a person might use self-starvation to meet the terminal illness criteria they would not otherwise meet.

MP voted NoAgainst party majority

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Voting at a Glance

Won by LD in its first election in 2024 by 4.7%. Covers Melksham, Devizes and Bradford-on-Avon. Population 94,569, notably older (median age 47 vs 41 nationally). Recorded crime is 49% below the national average.

2024 General Election

§ 06This week in Westminster.Live · today’s sittingOrder Paper · refreshed daily

Mathew’s scheduled Commons activity this week — whipped divisions, oral questions, debates — drawn from the House of Commons Order Paper.

§ 07The record, at a glance.324 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Mathew has cast the most ballots — a proxy for engagement, not direction. Notable votes are the moments where the whip was free or where they broke ranks.

Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted · cumulative this Parliament
Taxation
65
Economy
58
Employment
39
Welfare and Benefits
25
Crime & Policing
25
Education
23
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Amendment 2420 Jun 2025 · free vote
Aye
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Third Reading20 Jun 2025 · free vote
No
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Amendment 9420 Jun 2025 · free vote
No
§ 08The local picture.19 wards

Constituencies are not uniform. Below — the local council make-up, key facts worth knowing, and the neighbouring seats on either side.

WardCouncillorVotesParty
BowerhillNick Holder799Conserva
Box ColerneBrian Mathew1,260Liberal
Bradford On Avon NorthTim Trimble1,000Liberal
Bradford On Avon SouthSarah Gibson1,591Liberal
Bromham Rowde RoundwayLaura Mayes1,118Conserva
Calne SouthSam Pearce-Kearney938Liberal
Devizes EastKelvin James Nash779Conserva
Devizes NorthIain Wallis558Conserva
Devizes Rural WestTamara Reay1,065Conserva
Devizes SouthSimon David Jacobs879Conserva
HoltTrevor Carbin995Liberal
Melksham EastMike Sankey335Conserva
Population (2021 Census)
94,569
Electorate 73,482 · 2024 register
Median income
£28,700
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
12.9%
England average 20.0%
Schools
47
35 primary · 5 secondary
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