Steffan Aquarone is the Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, having first been elected to parliament at the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 election, Aquarone won 19,488 votes, representing 41.4% of the vote. The Conservative candidate, Duncan Baker, received 16,903 votes (35.9%), while the Reform UK candidate secured 6,368 votes (13.5%). Aquarone was duly elected with a majority of 2,585.

The North Norfolk constituency is located in the county of Norfolk, within the East of England region. It includes coastal towns like Cromer, Sheringham and Wells-next-the-Sea, along with inland towns such as North Walsham and Holt.

The seat has changed hands between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives in recent elections. Notably, it was held by Norman Lamb of the Liberal Democrats from 2001 to 2019, then by Conservative Duncan Baker from 2019 to 2024. Prior to 2001, it was held by the Conservatives (1970-2001) and Labour (1945-1970).

Political Career

Aquarone served as chair of the Liberal Democrat parliamentary party (2025-2026). In the election to this post, Aquarone won the support of 44 colleagues, defeating Anna Sabine (27 votes).

An i paper report suggested the 2025 election was seen as a proxy vote concerning Ed Davey’s leadership of the party. Sabine, Aquarone’s rival, stood for election while serving as Davey’s parliamentary private secretary (PPS).

During the campaign, Aquarone said Liberal Democrat MPs needed to feel “valued, consulted and communicated with”.

Aquarone succeeded Lisa Smart.

Aquarone is a member of the House of Commons transport select committee (since October 2024) – the committee responsible for the scrutiny of the Department for Transport and its associated public bodies. Its remit covers all aspects of transport policy in England, as well as UK-wide issues such as aviation and maritime policy.

Aquarone is listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for Parkinson’s.

Aquarone delivered his maiden speech on 15 October 2024 during a debate on the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill.

In it, he said: “The bill introduces much-needed reform of the House of Lords, which we Liberal Democrats of course support, but we know that it does not go far enough. We must establish a fully elected upper House – elected using a fairer voting system – as soon as possible.

“The House of Lords is only one part of our broken system, which needs to see urgent, radical reform. The structure and organisation of government itself must evolve to be fit for the modern age, and that transformation must extend beyond government to the wider public services and administrative systems that serve our citizens.”

He added: “From tackling climate change and preventing sewage spilling into the sea, to helping people get work and get about – let alone get a dentist appointment – so much of the change this country badly needs is not limited to one pillar of the state, but cross-cuts different departments.”

Aquarone previously stood unsuccessfully as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Mid Norfolk in the 2019 general election, finishing third to Conservative incumbent George Freeman on 7,739 votes (13.8%).

Aquarone was elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor representing the Melton Constable division on Norfolk County Council in 2017. He remained a councillor as of his election to parliament in 2024.

Aquarone served as leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council from April 2020 to May 2021.

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.”

Fair elections APPG: Aquarone is listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for fair elections – a cross-party group of MPs and peers that campaigns for electoral reform. The group’s stated aims include replacing the first past the post (FPTP) voting system with a form of proportional representation, eliminating “dark money” and “undemocratic influence” from politics, and countering disinformation.

Brexit and Europe

Customs union vote (2025): In December 2025, Aquarone 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

Aquarone 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 setting out his position, issued September 2024, Aquarone commented: “I’ve reflected deeply on the assisted dying debate for many years.

“Planning for death is uncomfortable for many people, and losing a loved one is one of the hardest things to navigate…

“However, I firmly believe that people with just a few months left to live should have the right to decide how, when, and where they die.”

Social values and conscience issues

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

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Aquarone 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 Steffan Luke Aquarone in 1984 in Blickling, Norfolk, he was home educated as a member of “education otherwise” until he was 12, when he began attending Norwich School.

He studied politics and international relations at the University of Warwick.

Prior to entering parliament, Aquarone worked as an entrepreneur in the film and technology sectors. During his time as a student, he co-founded Ephex Media alongside two fellow students. The company produced corporate films for brands such as Land Rover, Vodafone, Massey Ferguson and American Express.

Aquarone went on to co-found the mobile payment platform Droplet – which was named among the “Top 25 UK Startups” by Mashable in 2013.

Aquarone has also worked as a filmmaker. Alongside author Guy Browning, he co-owned feature film production company Immense Productions. His work includes romantic comedy Tortoise in Love (2012), which was first shown at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.

In 2017, he published a book co-written by his sister Freya titled Fourth to First: How to win a local election in under six months about his council election campaign in Norfolk.

Personal Life

Aquarone lives in Norfolk with his wife and children.

Trivia

In 2014, Aquarone was named as one of the top 20 most influential media figures under 30 by the Daily Mirror.