Andrew Snowden is the Conservative MP for Fylde, having first been elected to parliament at the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 general election, Snowden won 15,917 votes, representing 33.2% of the vote. The Labour candidate, Tom Calver, received 15,356 votes (32.0%), while the Reform UK candidate, Brook Wimbury, secured 8,295 votes (17.3%). Snowden was duly elected with a majority of just 561.

The Fylde constituency is located in Lancashire, in the North West of England. The seat has been held by the Conservative Party since its creation in 1918. The immediate predecessor MP was Mark Menzies, who stepped down from parliament in 2024.

Snowden is one of 26 new Conservative MPs that entered parliament at the 2024 general election.

Political Career

Snowden currently serves as shadow minister of state for work and pensions. He was appointed to this role as part of the August/September 2026 shadow ministerial reshuffle, Kemi Badenoch’s second as Conservative leader.

Snowden served as an opposition assistant whip on the Conservative frontbench from November 2024 to September 2026.

Snowden is listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) for beer (vice-chair), the Isle of Man (Manx), the night-time economy, Sri Lanka (chair) and the university.

Snowden delivered his maiden speech on 23 July 2024, during a debate on immigration and home affairs.

In it, he said: “I place firmly and proudly on the record my gratitude to everyone I have worked with at Lancashire Constabulary and in the office of commissioner.

“As this House debates the future policy and funding of policing in the UK, we should never forget those at the heart of it, on the frontline, working and making sacrifices to keep us safe every day.”

He added: “I want to champion the work of Crohn’s & Colitis UK, and other charities and organisations that support and advocate for those with disabilities that are not visible, and to help remove the stigma, indifference and even hostility that they receive, for example when needing to use facilities marked as for disabled people.”

Before entering parliament, Snowden served as a Conservative councillor on Lancashire County Council (2017-2021).

Snowden subsequently served as the police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Lancashire (2021-2024).

Political Views

Leadership elections

Tory leadership 2024: Snowden supported Priti Patel’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. Patel, the former home secretary, was eliminated in the first parliamentary ballot on 4 September after receiving 14 votes.

Snowden went on to support Kemi Badenoch’s candidacy. Badenoch, the then-shadow housing secretary, was seen as a leading figure on the party’s right wing. After finishing first in the final parliamentary ballot with 42 votes, she defeated Robert Jenrick in the membership vote with 53,806 votes (56.5%). Badenoch was declared Conservative leader on 2 November.

Factional identity and party tradition

Mass deportation: In May 2025, Snowden signed an early day motion (EDM) concerning the mass deportation of illegal migrants. The motion, tabled by the independent MP Rupert Lowe, expressed “grave concern at the continued presence of over one million illegal migrants in the United Kingdom”.

The EDM urged the government to “implement a comprehensive national strategy to identify, detain, and deport all individuals found to be residing in the United Kingdom illegally, and to ensure that such policies are backed by the necessary legislative, diplomatic, logistical and financial resources to restore confidence in the rule of law and the security of our borders.”

Assisted dying

Snowden voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, better known as the assisted dying bill, at second reading (November 2024). However, they went on to vote against at third reading (June 2025).

Snowden was one of 14 MPs to oppose the bill at third reading having supported it at second reading.

Social values and conscience issues

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Snowden opposed 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.

Before Politics

Andrew James Snowden was born in Bolton, Lancashire, on 18 October 1984.

Snowden studied military and international history at the University of Salford, graduating in 2008. He was the first in his family to attend university and served as president of the University of Salford Students’ Union (2006-2008).

After graduating, Snowden worked in education and public administration roles.

Personal Life

Snowden is married.

Trivia

Snowden served as president of the University of Salford Students’ Union.