martin linton

My Experience

Martin Linton has served as MP for Battersea, Balham and Wandsworth since 1997. Martin was returned to Parliament on 7th June 2001, and again in May 2005 with a majority of 163. He has lived in the constituency for over 30 years.

Martin previously undertook a number of roles in the House. He served as a member of the Home Affairs Committee from July 1997 to May 2001. He has been a Private Parliamentary Secretary (PPS) to Baroness Blackstone,  to the Leader of the House, Peter Hain MP, and to Lord Falconer, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Justice, until May 2007. Martin stood down in May 2007 so that he could speak out on a range of issues affecting his constituency.

His other interests include transport, housing, childcare, the funding of political parties, electoral reform, the media, education and the arts. He is concerned about peace and justice in Israel and Palestine and is Chair of Labour Friends of Palestine & the Middle East. Before becoming an MP, Martin Linton was a journalist on the The Guardian (1981-97).

He has written or edited a number of publications, including: Get Me Out Of Here, (Hard Times, 1980), The Swedish Road To Socialism (Fabian Society, 1984), Labour Can Still Win (Fabian Society, 1988), The Guardian Guide To The House of Commons (Editor, Fourth Estate, 1992), What's Wrong With First-Past-The-Post? (LCER, 1993), Money and Votes (IPPR, 1994), Was It The Sun Wot Won It? (Nuffield College/OUP 1995), The Guardian Election Guide (Editor, Fourth Estate - 1997), Making Votes Count (Profile Press, 1997), Beyond 2002 (Editor, Profile, 1999).

He was a Wandsworth councillor for 11 years and as chair of the Recreation Committee he set up Battersea Arts Centre, Wilditch and York Gardens community centres, George Shearing and Heathbrook sports centres and Shillington Street and Heathbrook parks. He is President of Battersea Arts Centre and Chairman of the Governors of Somerset Nursery School. He speaks two European languages and can read another three. He plays the trumpet and supports Fulham F.C.

He was born on the 11th August 1944 in Stockholm to an English father and a Swedish mother. He was educated at Limpsfield Primary School, Christ's Hospital, the Université de Lyon and Pembroke College, Oxford (where he read PPE). His father was a Church of England clergyman.

Martin lives in Battersea with his wife, Sara, and two step-daughters. He has two grown-up daughters, one of whom still lives in Battersea.