Andrew Murrison is the Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire, having first been elected for the predecessor seat of Westbury at the 2001 general election.

In the 2024 general election, Murrison won 15,617 votes, representing 33.8% of the vote. The Labour candidate, Evelyn Akoto, received 12,374 votes (26.8%), while the Reform UK candidate, Garry Irvin, secured 7,840 votes (17.0%). Murrison was duly elected with a majority of 3,243 votes.

The South West Wiltshire constituency is a largely rural seat including the towns of Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury. It is considered safe Conservative territory, held by the party continuously since 1924.

Political Career

Murrison is a member of the House of Commons finance committee (since November 2024). The finance committee is an internal body of the House of Commons responsible for overseeing the financial management of the House itself. Unlike a select committee, it does not scrutinise government departments. Instead, its remit is purely administrative and focused on the House’s own budget and expenditure.

Murrison is also a member of the panel of chairs (since November 2024). The panel of chairs is made up of MPs chosen by the House of Commons speaker, typically at the beginning of every parliament, to chair public bill committees and other commons general committees. In this capacity, Murrison may chair debates in Westminster Hall and may also act as temporary chair during a committee of the whole House.

Prior to the 2024 general election, which saw the Conservatives ejected from government, Murrison held a series of ministerial roles. Most recently, he served as parliamentary under-secretary of state for defence people and families from October 2022 to July 2024.

Murrison previously served as minister of state for international development and the Middle East (2019-2020), parliamentary under-secretary of state for Northern Ireland (2014-2015), and parliamentary under-secretary of state for international security strategy (Ministry of Defence) (2012-2014).

Murrison was appointed as the UK’s trade envoy to Morocco in January 2016. Appointed by the secretary of state for business and trade, envoys are tasked with boosting British exports and attracting foreign investment from specific global markets, ranging from developing nations to established economic powers. An envoy’s duties typically involve leading trade delegations, lobbying host governments on market access issues, and building relationships with overseas businesses.

Murrison resigned as a trade envoy to Morocco in July 2022 as part of the mass walkout of ministers that ultimately forced Boris Johnson to announce his own resignation.

In a scathing resignation letter, addressed to Johnson, Murrison wrote: “Others must square, as best they can, the continuing enjoyment of your patronage with their personal sense of decency, honour and integrity, but I no longer can.”

He added: “We entered the commons together in June 2001. I backed your leadership bid in 2016 and, with reservations based on your time at the Foreign Office that we discussed at the time, in 2019. As a habitual and instinctive loyalist, I have strived to be publicly supportive since.

“In February, reflecting on your achievements, I wrote a supportive op ed for the Guardian in which I said that if you were obliged to leave office you would do so with your head held high. I would no longer write in those terms.

“Your position has become unrecoverable. I strongly urge you to resign.”

During the Conservative party’s last stint in opposition, Murrison served as shadow minister for defence (2007-2010) and shadow minister for health (2003-2007).

Murrison chaired the House of Commons Northern Ireland affairs select committee from July 2017 to May 2019. By virtue of this role, he sat on the liaison committee across the same period. The liaison committee has a broad oversight role, but is best known for its questioning of the prime minister in sessions that take place two or three times a year.

Murrison also sat on the science, innovation and technology committee from July 2001 to July 2005.

Murrison is listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) for Morocco and vulnerable groups to pandemics.

Murrison delivered his maiden speech on 17 July 2001.

In it, he said: “West Wiltshire’s very obvious physical charm conceals real problems that I suggest would match those faced by the constituencies of many Labour members. Honourable members should never for a moment suppose that the English shire counties are untroubled by relative poverty, for that is not so.

“My constituents have all been victims in one way or another of changes to the formula used in the standard spending assessment. Wiltshire’s schoolchildren, road users and social services are suffering badly. Please may we now have fair funding for Wiltshire?”

He added: “When I left the medical branch of the Royal Navy in October last year, I was likened by one of my more thoughtful colleagues to a rat leaving a sinking ship. The analogy was a little unkind, but the point was well made.

“Our armed forces are in a truly parlous state that contrasts sharply with that enjoyed by many of our allies.”

Political views

Leadership elections and loyalty

Tory leadership 2024: Murrison supported Mel Stride’s candidacy in the 2024 Conservative Party leadership election. The contest was triggered by the resignation of Rishi Sunak following the party’s defeat in the 2024 general election. Stride, the then-shadow work and pensions secretary, was eliminated in the second parliamentary ballot on 10 September 2024 after receiving 16 votes.

Tory leadership 2022 (I): Murrison supported Rishi Sunak’s candidacy in the Conservative Party’s July-September 2022 leadership election. The contest was triggered by the resignation of Boris Johnson, following the mass exodus of more than 60 frontbenchers.

Sunak, the former chancellor, warned against “comforting fairytales” regarding unfunded tax cuts. Although he won every round of the parliamentary ballots, securing 137 votes in the final stage, Sunak was defeated by Liz Truss in the membership vote, finishing with 60,399 votes (42.6%).

Tory leadership 2022 (II): Murrison also Rishi Sunak’s candidacy in the Conservative Party’s October 2022 leadership election. The contest was triggered by the resignation of Liz Truss after just 45 days in office, following the financial and political tailspin triggered by her “mini-budget”.

Unlike the summer contest, this election featured an expedited process requiring each candidate to secure at least 100 nominations from MPs to proceed. Sunak, having emerged as the clear frontrunner, was declared leader of the Conservative Party unopposed on 24 October.

Tory leadership 2019: Murrison supported Dominic Raab’s candidacy for the party’s leadership in May 2019. The election was triggered by the resignation of Theresa May following her inability to secure a Brexit deal acceptable to the Conservative Party.

Raab, the former Brexit secretary, argued that the UK must be prepared to leave the EU without a deal on 31 October. He notably refused to rule out the prorogation of parliament to prevent MPs from blocking a no-deal exit. Raab was eliminated in the second parliamentary ballot on 18 June 2019, after securing 30 votes.

Murrison subsequently supported Boris Johnson’s candidacy. Johnson, the former foreign secretary and mayor of London, campaigned on the central pledge to “deliver Brexit” by 31 October 2019, “deal or no deal”. He thereby positioned himself as the candidate best-placed to break the parliamentary deadlock. Johnson secured 114 votes in the first parliamentary ballot, and reached 160 votes in the final MP round. In the subsequent ballot of the party membership, Johnson won a decisive victory with 92,153 votes (66.4%).

Tory leadership 2016: Murrison supported Andrea Leadsom for the party’s leadership in July 2016. The election was triggered by the resignation of David Cameron following the UK’s vote to leave the European Union.

Leadsom, the minister of state for energy and climate change, emerged as a leading “Leave” candidate, securing 66 votes in the first ballot and 84 in the second. She withdrew from the contest on 11 July before the membership vote could take place.

Brexit and Europe

Brexit referendum: Murrison supported Leave in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and therefore agreed with a majority of his constituents, 56.9% of whom also voted to Leave.

Article 50: In February 2017, Murrison voted in favour of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. The legislation empowered the prime minister to notify the Council of the European Union of the UK’s intention to withdraw, formally triggering the process set out in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. MPs supported the bill by 498 votes to 114 at second reading.

Customs union vote (2025): In December 2025, Murrison voted against the UK-EU Customs Union (Duty to Negotiate) Bill. The bill, introduced under the ten-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.

Assisted dying

Murrison voted against 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).

Social values and conscience issues

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Murrison voted against 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.

Same-sex marriage (2013): In February 2013, Murrison was one of the 131 Conservative MPs to vote in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill at its second reading. The landmark piece of legislation, which received its second reading by 400 votes to 175, legalised marriage for same-sex couples in England and Wales.

Foreign policy and security

Trident renewal (2016): Murrison voted in favour of a government motion calling for the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent system in July 2016. The motion, which was passed by 472 votes to 117, committed the UK to constructing a new fleet of submarines to carry the nation’s nuclear weapons.

Syria airstrikes (2015): Murrison voted in favour of a government motion to extend UK airstrikes against Isis from Iraq into Syria in December 2015. The motion, which was passed by 397 votes to 223 after a ten-hour debate in the House of Commons, authorised the RAF to conduct strikes against Isis targets in Syria.

Syria airstrikes (2013): Murrison voted in favour of the government’s motion on the principle of military intervention in Syria in August 2013. The government motion was defeated by 285 votes to 272, a move which effectively ruled out UK participation in any US-led military strikes.

Iraq War vote (2003): In March 2003, Murrison voted for a rebel amendment which argued that the case for war against Iraq had not been established. A total of 139 Labour, 53 Liberal Democrat and 15 Conservative MPs backed the amendment. The government’s unamended motion authorising military action against Iraq passed by 412 votes to 149.

Sanctioned (Russia): In April 2022, Murrison was among the group of MPs placed on a sanctions list by the Russian government. The measure barred them from entering Russia and was presented by Moscow as a retaliatory response to the UK’s stance on the invasion of Ukraine.

Before Politics

Born Andrew William Murrison in Colchester on 24 April 1961, he grew up in Harwich and went to the Britannia Royal Naval College.

Murrison studied medicine at the University of Bristol and public health at Hughes Hall, Cambridge. He served for 18 years as a medical officer in the Royal Navy, retiring in 2000 with the rank of Surgeon Commander.

He was recalled to serve in Iraq in 2003.

At the time, Murrison stated: “I considered that the evidence being presented by the government was insufficient to take this country into Iraq.

“I feared for the consequences. However, we have to work with the situation that we now find ourselves in and quite clearly we cannot just pull out of the region because it would then descend into chaos.

“We have a legal duty with the USA to do what we can to restore equilibrium and the rule of law to Iraq.

“I believe the international community has a moral obligation to do what it can to assist in that process and to ensure that the government of Iraq is restored to the people at the earliest possible opportunity.”

He added: “Although I opposed the war in Iraq I feel very strongly that we have to make sure that law and order and stability is restored.

“Having got ourselves into the current situation we have to do what we can and the armed forces have a very central role to play in that.

“I do not see any conflict with my position in parliament in terms of opposing the government intervening in Iraq and my current service as a medic.”

Personal Life

Murrison is married to Jennifer Munden, a physiotherapist. They live near Mere in Wiltshire and have five daughters.

Trivia

Murrison is the author of the book, Tommy This an’ Tommy That: The Military Covenant, published in June 2011.