Tell me something about yourself.
My name is Dominic Martin and I am married with three young adult daughters. I have significant experience in the public sector as a diplomat and in the private sector. I have also been a trustee of a major anti-corruption NGO, Transparency International. Away from the world of work and politics I am a big cricket fan.
Why did you become a LibDem?
I became an active Lib Dem because I was alarmed by the damage done to our country by the Conservative Government and wanted to help bring about change.
Why should the next MP for East Hampshire be a Liberal Democrat?
Voters have had enough of the chaos and mismanagement under the present Conservative Government. It’s time for change, including here in East Hampshire where the sitting Conservative MP has been a minister under a succession of Prime Ministers. Only the Lib Dems can beat the Conservatives here.
Can the Lib Dems win in East Hampshire?
Yes. Opinion polls and recent election results show that only the Lib Dems can beat the Conservatives here. East Hampshire is officially not a Labour battleground seat and the Green Party have no realistic prospect of challenging the Conservatives here either. Our most recent local District Council by-election result showed that we can do so convincingly.
What are your policy priorities?
Our NHS is broken. Our rivers are running with raw sewage. Far too many people cannot afford to heat their homes and put food on the table. Far too many people cannot get an affordable home. We need urgently to change all of that. Protecting our natural environment for future generations has to be one of the most important responsibilities of every elected politician in this beautiful part of the country. It is certainly one of my top priorities.
If you could change one thing about the UK tomorrow, what would it be?
A properly funded and well run National Health Service with plenty of well trained, well motivated medical professionals including 8,000 more GPs.
Your CV is impressive. Where did you serve as a British diplomat?
I was a diplomat for over 25 years and served in New Delhi, Buenos Aires, Washington and Paris as well as London. My last posting was as Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris. My final Foreign Office role was as Deputy G8 Sherpa, leading some of the UK’s most important international negotiations.
What does CVO after your name mean?
I had the honour to be appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by Her Late Majesty The Queen in 2008.
Can you share some impressions of campaigning in East Hampshire?
Our canvassers and delivery teams certainly need good raincoats and wellies! The large area covered by the new constituency means that we all keep fit walking. Seriously though, it is a privilege and pleasure to be standing as the Liberal Democrat candidate here. The South Downs National Park and so many nature reserves are a daily reminder of the need to protect this wonderful environment for future generations. I have been really impressed meeting so many environmental organisations and volunteers and farmers doing amazing work caring for the landscape as well as producing wonderful, high quality food.
What is your message East Hampshire voters ahead of the 4 July General Election?
What I would say to voters is, please look back at the damage our country has suffered over the past eight years. I haven’t met a single Conservative voter in East Hampshire who had wished for the endless Government infighting and instability, corrosion of integrity in public life, economic meltdown, rivers and coasts awash with sewage, the chaos of Brexit implementation, the litany of scandal or the Partygate soap opera. I could go on.