Dr Ian Sollom is the Liberal Democrat MP for St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire, having first been elected to parliament at the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 general election, Sollom won 19,517 votes, representing 36.9% of the vote. The Conservative candidate, Anthony Browne, received 14,896 votes (28.2%), while the Labour candidate, Marianna Masters, secured 6,918 votes (13.1%). Sollom was duly elected with a majority of 4,621.

The St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire constituency was newly created ahead of the 2024 election, formed from parts of the former Huntingdon, South Cambridgeshire and South East Cambridgeshire constituencies. The seat is located in the East of England.

Political Career

Sollom currently serves on the Liberal Democrat frontbench as universities and skills spokesperson. He was appointed to this role in September 2024.

Sollom has called for a “national strategy for mathematics” and led a June 2025 Westminster Hall debate on the contribution of maths to the UK.

In that debate, Sollom said he has a “deep affection for mathematics” and argued that the government risked “undermining our mathematical future through policies that, I accept, reflect difficult choices but seem to work against our mathematical advantages on the global stage.”

He stated: “Mathematics is too important to be left to chance or to be treated piecemeal. We need a national strategy for mathematics with a comprehensive approach that recognises the fundamental role of mathematical thinking in everything from personal finance right through to national security, and from healthcare innovation to other areas of science.”

Sollom delivered his maiden speech on 7 October 2024 during a debate on NHS performance.

In it, he said: “My background in physics – I have a PhD in cosmology – is something that I am also proud to bring to this role, even if I did think that I had left the study of black holes behind me some time ago.”

He added: “I am of course already the longest-serving member for St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire, but I hope that the dedication, integrity and judgment with which I have pledged to serve my constituents will see me hold that record for a considerable time to come, making a real difference to the people of my constituency, and working with Members across this House to make a difference to the whole of the UK.”

Before entering parliament, sollom was elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor on South Cambridgeshire District Council in May 2018. He stood down in May 2022.

Sollom stood unsuccessfully as the Liberal Democrat candidate for South Cambridgeshire in the 2019 general election.

Political Views

The Liberal Democrats (or Lib Dems) are a liberal political party, occupying the centre to centre-left ground in British politics.

The preamble to the Lib Dem constitution begins: “The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.”

The Liberal Democrat autumn conference in 2021 ratified a policy paper entitled What Liberal Democrats Believe. The paper, an attempt to expand on the constitution’s preamble, was framed around seven “principles and values”.

The party’s core values were described as “liberty, equality, democracy, community, internationalism and environmentalism.”

Brexit and Europe

Customs union vote (2025): In December 2025, Sollom voted in favour of the UK-EU Customs Union (Duty to Negotiate) Bill. The bill, introduced under the 10-minute rule procedure by Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton, sought to mandate the government to enter into negotiations with the European Union to establish a bespoke customs union. In total, 13 Labour MPs joined the Liberal Democrats in supporting the motion, while the majority of the party abstained.

Assisted dying

Sollom voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, better known as the assisted dying bill, at both second reading (November 2024) and third reading (June 2025).

In a statement issued at the time of the bill’s second reading, Sollom said: “As a liberal and a humanist, I believe in the rights of individuals to live by their own values, and in their freedom to make decisions about their own life provided it does not result in harm to others.”

Social values and conscience issues

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Sollom voted in favour of a backbench amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that sought to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales in June 2025. The amendment, which was passed by a majority of 242 votes, removed women from the threat of prosecution for ending a pregnancy at any stage. As an issue of conscience, MPs were allowed to vote according to their personal beliefs.

Palestine

Palestinian recognition letter (July 2025): In July 2025, Sollom was among the over 254 MPs to sign a cross-party letter calling for the government to immediately recognise the state of Palestine. The letter called on the prime minister and foreign secretary to recognise Palestine at the UN Conference then taking place in New York.

Before Politics

Ian Fraser Sollom grew up in rural Shropshire and attended King Edward VI College.

Sollom studied physics at the University of Oxford, graduating in 2004. He was awarded PhD in cosmology from the University of Cambridge in 2010. His thesis was titled “Bayesian Analysis of the Cosmic Microwave Background Beyond the Concordance Model.”

Sollom held strategy/business consultant roles before entering frontline politics, including a StrategicFit.

Personal Life

Sollom has lived in Cambridgeshire since 2005.

He is married.

Trivia

Sollom holds a PhD in Cosmology from the University of Cambridge.