Thomas Gravatt announced as Romsey and Southampton North MP candidate for the Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats are delighted to announce that Thomas Gravatt has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Romsey and Southampton North constituency.

The Liberal Democrats came within just 2,191 votes of defeating Conservative MP Caroline Nokes in the 2024 General Election. That makes the seat one of the most marginal in southern England. 

Thomas is a local councillor for Swaythling in the south of the constituency. He works as a charity fundraiser for the University of Southampton raising money for medical research. Thomas has fronted campaigns to protect our environment from sewage pollution, called for reform of the broken social care system, and has called on government to take urgent action to bring down the cost-of-living. 

Thomas has knocked on thousands of doors across the constituency over the last few  years. Following his selection, Gravatt vowed to stand up for the people of Romsey and Southampton North. 

Thomas Gravatt, Liberal Democrat candidate for Romsey and Southampton North, said:

“Romsey and Southampton North is my home. I have campaigned across every community here and I am already standing up for local residents as a councillor. I am looking forward to continuing to help people across the constituency as both a campaigner and, after the next General Election, as your Member of Parliament. 

“Our area has been taken for granted by the Conservatives for too long. Fifteen years of Conservative government left us with sewage filled rivers, a skyrocketing cost-of-living, and an NHS on life support. We need change. 

“It’s clear that this Labour government are just as out of touch as the Conservatives were - and they are in a distant third place in this constituency anyway. The Liberal Democrats are offering a real, positive alternative for our country. We are calling for investment in our NHS, schools, and environmental protection - and we are driving economic policies that will allow us to make these long term investments.”

Sandra Gidley, Liberal Democrat MP for Romsey from 2000-2010, said:

“I’m very pleased to see Thomas selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate to be the next MP for Romsey and Southampton North. In Thomas, we have a seasoned campaigner with a strong record of action and of fighting for local residents, and a proven ability to win against the Conservatives."

"At the last general election, the Liberal Democrats were just 2,191 votes behind the Conservatives, making this one of the Lib Dems top targets to win at the next General Election. Thomas is a strong, committed and hard-working candidate who will make an outstanding Member of Parliament for Romsey and Southampton North. Local Tories take note – your time is up.”