Constituency : Manchester Withington 2005-2015
John took Manchester Withington from Labour's Keith Bradley who had supported the war in Iraq. His victory was the largest swing in the UK and the first Liberal victory in Manchester since 1929.
John is the son of a Methodist minister. He was educated at Manchester Grammar School and Brunel University. He was a trainee manager at McDonalds then a claims handler for the RAC. He was elected to Manchester City Council in 1998.
John became shadow transport spokesman.
John increased his majority in 2010. He joined Charles Kennedy in voting against joining the coalition and declined a number of front bench positions. He voted against tuition fees and the so-called bedroom tax. He did help draft the legislation for same-sex marriage.
John campaigned successfully for a pardon for Alan Turing in 2013. He also supported safe standing at football grounds and asylum for Syrian refugee children.
John was defeated by Labour in 2015. The following year he won a seat back on the city council giving it a first opposition councillor in two years. He has been a thorn in the side of the ruling Labour group. He stood for Parliament again in 2017 but fell further behind .
He is now 48.
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