Liberal Democrats MP for Witney.
Witney's MP has carved out a reputation as one of the more active Liberal Democrat backbenchers, with sewage pollution and Thames Water at the centre of his public profile. He led visible criticism of Thames Water after a local school closure caused by sewage contamination, attended a Channel 4 parliamentary event on water pollution alongside constituents and campaigners, and reportedly tabled 44 amendments to the Water Act. He also intervened in a Supreme Court case concerning Thames Water. His one rebel vote — opposing the Tobacco and Vapes Bill's Second Reading in November 2024, against his party's majority — stands out as a rare break from the Lib Dem line in an otherwise highly loyal voting record.
At 68% voting participation, Maynard sits below the Commons average, though new MPs often take time to build up their attendance. He votes with his party on 99.7% of divisions. His stance profile shows strong alignment with parliamentary scrutiny, Lords oversight, climate action, and welfare expansion, but low alignment with fiscal responsibility and progressive taxation measures — suggesting a broadly liberal but fiscally cautious pattern. His speeches span economy and jobs, fiscal policy, environment, social care, utilities, and cost of living. He sits on the Business and Trade Committee and its sub-committee on economic security and arms export controls, reflecting a focus extending beyond purely local concerns.
He deviates from his Lib Dem colleagues most notably on whistleblower protection and child welfare, where he votes more supportively than the party average. His news coverage — school visits, a first-year retrospective citing over 5,000 casework cases, and a railway reinstatement campaign — points to a constituent-facing style. Longer-term voting and news data remain limited given he has only been an MP since July 2024.
Charlie Maynard is the Liberal Democrat MP for Witney, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024. He currently undertakes the role of Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Chief Secretary to the Treasury).
Top eight by total divisions voted, this parliament. Volume measures engagement, not direction — see Notable Votes for free-vote moments and rebellions.
Source · The Public Whip · Hansard
Moments where the whip was free, or where Maynard broke ranks. Free votes are the truer signal of personal stance.
| Date | Bill / motion | Vote | Whip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Nov 2024 | Tobacco and Vapes Bill: Second Reading | No | Freevs party |
Source · Hansard
“Thames Water should be placed into special administration on insolvency grounds; creditors should not be allowed to refinance the company at 10% interest rates, and a mutual owners…”
“Iran's economic coercion is unacceptable; Trump's tit-for-tat escalation risks full conflict; government should prioritise diplomatic resolution and address detention of British na…”
“NATO summit was disrupted by Trump's threats and tantrums; the £37 billion deep strike commitment needs clearer funding and delivery mechanisms; Defence bonds and European rearmame…”
“The interim report confirms PIP is broken and administration creates perverse incentives against work; spending has doubled in five years and structural reform is urgent; welcome c…”
Select, joint and other committees Maynard currently sits on. Committee work is where much of the line-by-line scrutiny of bills and departments happens, away from the chamber.
| Committee | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Business and Trade Sub-Committee on Economic Security, Arms and Export Controls | Member | Select |
| Business and Trade Committee | Member | Select |
Source · UK Parliament Committees API
Committee seats are where backbenchers shape legislation and hold departments to account. Maynard sits on 2.
| Department | Qs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 35 | 24.1% |
| Department of Health and Social Care | 33 | 22.8% |
| Treasury | 10 | 6.9% |
| Ministry of Justice | 10 | 6.9% |
| Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | 9 | 6.2% |
| Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | 7 | 4.8% |
| Department for Education | 7 | 4.8% |
| Department for Business and Trade | 6 | 4.1% |
Whether she will confirm that £836 million in cash terms was forecast to be spent on Equitable Life With-Profits Annuitants at the outset of the Equitable Life Payment Scheme; and that a discount rate of 4.4% was applied to reach the allocation of £625m for With-Profits Annuitants.
Awaiting answer.
What discussions he has had with businesses shortlisted under the second Hydrogen Allocation Round on progression to the Invite to Offer stage of negotiations before the end of 2026.
Awaiting answer.
What steps he is taking to ensure that the time taken for hydrogen policy and funding announcements does not reduce private sector investment into the domestic hydrogen sector.
Awaiting answer.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of increasing the level of UK content in projects shortlisted under the second Hydrogen Allocation Round on the economy and job creation.
Awaiting answer.
Christopher Brotherton £10,000 |
Bradley Wickens £10,000 |
Al Breach £12,500 |
Alasdair Breach £12,500 |
Alasdair Breach £12,500 |
Source · Members API · Last amended 14 Apr 2026
| Category | £ | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Staffing | 153,756 | 84.2% |
| Office Costs | 24,521 | 13.4% |
| MP Travel | 2,486 | 1.4% |
| Miscellaneous | 1,086 | 0.6% |
| Staff Travel | 665 | 0.4% |
| Total · 53 claims | 182,514 | 100% |
Source · IPSA · FY 24_25
Nothing tabled for Maynard on the published Order Paper this week.