Rachel Gilmour is the Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Minehead, having first been elected to parliament at the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 general election, Gilmour received 18,326 votes (38.6%). The Conservative candidate, Ian Liddell-Grainger, received 14,819 votes (31.2%), while the Reform UK candidate, Fred Keen, secured 7,787 votes (16.4%). Gilmour was elected with a majority of 3,507 votes.

The Tiverton and Minehead constituency was newly created ahead of the 2024 election, formed primarily from parts of the abolished Tiverton and Honiton seat, and parts of the former Bridgwater and West Somerset and Taunton Deane seats.

The MPs representing the main predecessor areas were Richard Foord (Liberal Democrat, Tiverton and Honiton), Ian Liddell-Grainger (Conservative, Bridgwater and West Somerset) and Rebecca Pow (Conservative, Taunton Deane).

Political Career

Gilmour is a member of the House of Commons public accounts committee (since October 2024). The PAC is the oldest and arguably one of the most powerful select committees in the House of Commons. Its primary function is to scrutinise the value for money of public spending, ensuring taxpayers’ money is spent wisely. First established in 1857, the committee does not examine the merits of government policy, only the cost and effectiveness of its implementation.

In later 2025 and early 2026, Gilmour was prominent in questioning the government over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal. On 26 September 2025, she referred to “a source from MI6 has reportedly claimed that they failed to clear Mandelson and warned that his links to [Epstein] ‘would compromise him’.” The source was quoted in a contemporary Independent report.

Gilmour delivered her commons speech in the presence of Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty. In April 2026, when it was found that Mandelson had in fact failed vetting, Gilmour’s remarks were cited as evidence that the government should have been aware of this fact.

On 20 April 2026, when Gilmour’s contribution was raised with the prime minister, Keir Starmer responded: “At various points questions were asked, and questions were put to the FCDO. The answer back was the same, because it took the view that it was not information it could share with anyone, including myself.”

Gilmour is listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for farming (co-chair).

Gilmour delivered her maiden speech on 14 October 2024 in a debate on Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill.

In it, she said: “Yesterday I celebrated my three-score-years birthday; I say to my Conservative colleagues, whose maths skills in government were found somewhat wanting, that that is 60. I share my birthday with Margaret Hilda Thatcher, who must be one of the best recruiting agents for the Liberal and Labour parties.

“I am proud that I share nothing with her other than a birthday. My passion for politics flows from my compassion for my fellow human beings – whoever and wherever they are, irrespective of background, race, religion, colour, gender, sexuality or ability.”

She added: “Becoming an MP has been my ambition since I was 17, when I joined the Liberal party at school. It has taken me four attempts over 43 years of campaigning, but now that dream has become a reality.”

Before entering parliament, Gilmour was elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor on Mid Devon District Council in 2023.

Gilmour stood unsuccessfully as the Liberal Democrat candidate for parliament in Nottingham North (1997), Totnes (2001) and Taunton Deane (2015).

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, Gilmour 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, Gilmour 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

Gilmour 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).

Social values and conscience issues

Gilmour was one of the six Liberal Democrat MPs who voted against the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 at its House of Commons third reading. This went against the majority of her party (38 Liberal Democrat MPs voted for the legislation).

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Gilmour 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

Born Rachel Clare Wrench on 13 October 1964, she grew up on the Somerset-Devon border.

She attended St John’s Primary School in Wellington, Somerset, and later Cheltenham Ladies’ College.

Gilmour then studied law at SOAS University of London and English literature at King’s College London.

Gilmour was an English lecturer at Somerset College of Arts & Technology in Taunton. She subsequently worked in corporate communications and public affairs for national and international non-governmental organisations. She was director of communications at the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), the first woman to hold a board position there in its 100-year history,

She later served as head of strategy at the Environment Agency.

Personal Life

Gilmour is the daughter of David Wrench, a former England international rugby player who later became leader of Wellington Town Council as a Conservative.

She lives in Bampton, Devon, with her husband Patrick, a corporate lawyer. She has three sons and a daughter.

Trivia

Gilmour joined the Liberal Party at the age of 17 while at school.