Danny Chambers
Danny Seiorse Chambers (born 12 January 1982) is a British Liberal Democrat politician and veterinary surgeon who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Winchester since 2024. Chambers is the founder of Veterinary Voices UK and a trustee of Vetlife, a mental health charity. He lives in Shawford, Hampshire, with his partner. Chambers currently sits on the Liberal Democrat frontbench team as the Spokesperson for Mental Health.
Danny Chambers | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament for Winchester | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Brine |
| Majority | 13,821 (24.2%) |
| Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Mental Health | |
| Assumed office 18 September 2024 | |
| Leader | Ed Davey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Danny Seiorse Chambers 12 January 1982 Plymouth, England |
| Party | Liberal Democrat |
| Alma mater | University of Liverpool (BVSc, MSc) |
Danny Seiorse Chambers (born 12 January 1982) is a British Liberal Democrat politician and veterinary surgeon who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Winchester since 2024. Chambers is the founder of Veterinary Voices UK and a trustee of Vetlife, a mental health charity.[1] He lives in Shawford, Hampshire, with his partner.
Chambers currently sits on the Liberal Democrat frontbench team as the Spokesperson for Mental Health.
Early life and education
[edit]Danny Seiorse Chambers[2] was born in Plymouth and grew up on a farm near Lifton in Devon. He studied at Tavistock College, serving as head boy and gaining A-levels in biology, chemistry and physics. He graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2006 with an MSc degree in infectious disease control and in 2008 with a BVSc degree in veterinary medicine.[3][non-primary source needed]
Veterinary career
[edit]Chambers is an elected member of the council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, serving from 2017 to 2025.[4] He has contributed to the magazine New Scientist.[5] Chambers has worked with volunteers for veterinary charities in India, Morocco and The Gambia. He has participated in public health programmes to eradicate rabies from street dogs. He has also worked to improve the lives of working equids, where people are reliant on them for their income.[citation needed] Chambers is the founder of Veterinary Voices UK and a trustee of Vetlife, a mental health charity.[6]
Chambers gave up his veterinary practice upon entering Parliament in 2024.[7]
Political career
[edit]In the 2019 general election, Chambers stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate for North Cornwall.[8] Chambers received 30.8 per cent of the vote, coming second to the incumbent MP, Scott Mann.[9]
In the 2024 general election, Chambers was the Liberal Democrat candidate for Winchester against Flick Drummond, the incumbent MP for the part of the Winchester constituency that had been in the constituency of Meon Valley prior to 2024, winning with 52.5 per cent of the vote and a 13,821-vote majority. Chambers had initially been selected as the candidate in 2021.[10]
On 12 September 2024, he made his maiden speech in the House of Commons during the Sir David Amess Adjournment Debate.[11] On 18 September 2024, Ed Davey announced his new Frontbench Team: Chambers became Spokesperson for Mental Health within the team.[12] Chambers was subsequently selected by Ballot to bring forward a Private Members Bill,[13] for which he brought forward the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, which seeks to regulate and reduce the number of pets that can be brought in to Great Britain, and the movement of heavily pregnant and mutilated pets, and raising the minimum age at which puppies and kittens could be imported to six months. The government and opposition both supported it from its second reading on 29 November 2024.[14] The bill is also supported by the Dogs Trust, BVA, and RSPCA.[15][16] In December 2025, the bill received Royal Assent, becoming law.[17][18] Chambers stated the bill would close loopholes, and address the public health risk of smuggled animals.[19]
Since his election, Chambers has also asked three Prime Minister's Questions. On 16 October 2024 he challenged government plans to remove consultant-led maternity services and the A&E unit at Winchester hospital, asking Keir Starmer to reassure constituents that the services remain at the RHCH and that an existing backlog of maintenance at the hospital be cleared.[20] On 15 January 2025 he raised the issue of rising cases of Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria emerging in Ukraine due to the ongoing war.[21] On 5 February 2025 he called for the Prime Minister to commit to improving maternity care and women’s health services as a top priority.[22]
References
[edit]- ^ Silverwood, Joshua (9 November 2021). "Vet Danny Chambers selected as MP candidate for Winchester". Vet Times. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "No. 64465". The London Gazette. 22 July 2024. p. 14086.
- ^ "Danny Chambers". LinkedIn. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ "Danny Chambers". Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Danny Chambers". New Scientist. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Silverwood, Joshua (9 November 2021). "Vet Danny Chambers selected as MP candidate for Winchester". Vet Times. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "New MP hangs up his vet's stethoscope 'at least for a while'". Meon Valley Times. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Williams, Christine (10 April 2019). "New leader for the North Cornwall Liberal Democrats". Bude & Stratton Post. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Cornwall North". BBC News. 2019. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Pack, Mark (9 November 2021). "Danny Chambers selected for Winchester". Mark Pack. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
- ^ Dr Danny Chambers (12 September 2024). "Sir David Amess Adjournment Debate". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 753. United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 1052–1054.
- ^ Self, Josh (18 September 2024). "Ed Davey unveils new Liberal Democrat frontbench". Politics.co.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "5 September: Successful MPs in Private Members' Bill ballot announced". www.parliament.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
- ^ "Vet Times: Latest Veterinary News, Jobs & Clinical Resources". www.vettimes.com. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
- ^ "Tough new legal crackdown on puppy smuggling moves a step closer". GOV.UK. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
- ^ Association, British Veterinary. "Pet imports". British Veterinary Association. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
- ^ "Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament". bills.parliament.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "Danny Chambers MP's mutilated pets import ban bill set to become law". BBC News. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "Lib Dem Animal Welfare Bill becomes law". www.libdems.org.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "Winchester MP raises threat to hospital services at Prime Minister's Questions". Hampshire Chronicle. Archived from the original on 26 April 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
- ^ "Winchester MP grills prime minister over Ukraine 'superbugs' in parliament". Hampshire Chronicle. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
- ^ "Engagements - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
