Monica Harding is the Liberal Democrat MP for Esher and Walton, having first been elected to parliament at the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 general election, Harding received 28,315 votes (52.6%). The Conservative candidate, John Cope, received 16,312 votes (30.3%), while the Reform UK candidate, Alastair Gray, secured 4,777 votes (8.9%). Harding was elected with a majority of 12,003 votes.

The Esher and Walton constituency is located in Surrey, South East England. The seat, created in 1997, was held continuously by the Conservative Party from its creation until the Liberal Democrat gain in 2024. It was previously considered a safe Conservative seat but became marginal in the 2019 election.

Harding’s immediate predecessor as the MP for Esher and Walton was Dominc Raab of the Conservative Party. Raab, a former deputy prime minister, held the seat from 2010 to 2024.

Political Career

Harding currently serves on the Liberal Democrat frontbench as international development spokesperson. She was appointed to this role in September 2024.

Harding is a member of the House of Commons international development select committee (since October 2024) – the committee responsible for scrutinising the work of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in respect of aid policy.

Harding is listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) for British Council and soft power, CAFOD, children’s online safety and nutrition for development.

Harding delivered her maiden speech on 7 October 2024 during a debate on NHS Performance.

In it, she said: “I want to tell you a story from my constituency. During the general election campaign, I met on the doorstep a couple unloading their car. I apologised for disturbing them as they were unpacking their shopping.

“‘Not shopping’, they replied, ‘We are unpacking our son’s belongings. He died.’ They went on to tell me that this young 19-year-old man had taken his life while at university. ‘He met you’, they told me. ‘He said he would vote for you because you were speaking out on mental health and special educational needs support for young people.’…

“In Surrey, there are almost 7,000 children on mental health waiting lists, with average waits of almost eight months. I meet parents on the doorstep whose special needs children are at home, rather than at school, for months and sometimes years, sliding into depression because they cannot access adequate provision.”

She added: “I promised that young man’s mother that if I was elected I would continue to shine a light on this issue, and I can think of no better way to do so than in this debate. Our children and young people are in trouble, and we must fix it.”

Harding previously stood unsuccessfully as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Esher and Walton 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, Harding 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.

Electoral reform

Proportional representation bill: In December 2024, Harding voted in favour of the Elections (Proportional Representation) Bill – introduced by Liberal Democrat frontbencher Sarah Olney under the 10-minute rule procedure. The bill sought to “introduce a system of proportional representation for parliamentary elections and for local government elections in England”.

A total of 138 MPs supported the bill – with 136 opposed. Notably, 59 Labour MPs backed Olney’s bill.

Introducing the bill, Olney told the House: “First past the post is a broken and unfair system. This summer, the Labour party won a landslide election victory, securing 63% of seats in the House of Commons in return for just 34% of the vote.

“The system leaves millions of voices unheard and creates a divisive, adversarial political climate where collaboration is discouraged and accountability is often sidestepped.”

Assisted dying

Harding 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).

In a statement issued after the bill’s third reading, she said: “Ultimately, I did not think the bill provided adequate safeguards for the vulnerable and disadvantaged which I saw it as my duty as a legislator to protect.”

Harding was one of 15 Liberal Democrats to vote against the assisted dying bill at third reading.

Social values and conscience issues

Harding was one of the 38 Liberal Democrat MPs who voted for the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 at its House of Commons third reading.

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Harding 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.

Before Politics

Harding studied English literature at the University of Manchester, graduating in 1993.

Harding worked as director of communications with the British Council, with postings in London, Paris, Tokyo and Shanghai, among other roles.

She served as president and CEO of Refugees International Japan (2005-2007) and was a board member of Refugees International USA.

Harding was also CEO of the Industry and Parliament Trust (2010-2011) and worked as an Associate Consultant with PA Consulting (2014-2017). She founded The Britain Project in 2020, a non-partisan convening space for progressives.

Personal Life

Harding lives in Thames Ditton, Surrey. She has four children.

Trivia

Harding is the first woman to represent Esher and Walton in parliament, and the first non-Conservative MP to represent the area (including predecessor seats) since 1910.