Parliamentary Office: 0207 219 6806
I am Gareth Bacon, your Conservative Member of Parliament for Orpington.
I took my Bachelors Degree at the University of Kent in 1996, before studying for a Masters Degree in European Politics at the same university the following year. The subject of my Masters Degree dissertation was an examination of the democratic deficit in the European Union – I concluded that this was a problem that could not be resolved and that Britain would be better served by leaving the European Union. This forms much of the foundation of my support for Brexit.
After university, I worked in financial services before moving into financial recruitment, latterly as a Director of a large financial recruitment business.
In 1998, I was elected to serve as a local councillor in the London Borough of Bexley. For a total of nine years I served as a Cabinet Member in a number of positions including as Deputy Leader of the Council, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, and Cabinet Member for Environment and Public Realm.
I was a Greater London Assembly Member since 2008, initially as a London-wide Member but subsequently was proud to represent the GLA constituency of Bromley and Bexley, which includes Orpington, holding the Mayor to account and delivering for outer London. In the final 18 months of Boris Johnson's mayoralty, I served as Chairman of the London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority. This body oversaw the London Fire Brigade and co-ordinated the emergency planning work for London. Subsequently, I led the GLA Conservatives in the Assembly and endeavoured to protect our green spaces, keep our communities safe, and ensure that every penny of taxpayers' money was well spent.
As your Member of Parliament, I am strongly opposed, and have campaigned diligently against, the Mayor's plan to extend ULEZ to the outer London Boroughs, including Orpington.
I also understand the challenges facing Orpington: crime and the fear of crime are rising, calls for building to be allowed on the greenbelt are getting louder.
I am proud to be your Member of Parliament and will continue to deliver on the residents of Orpington's priorities.