Paul Foster

I am honoured to serve as the Member of Parliament for South Ribble since July 2024. Before stepping into this role, I had the privilege of leading South Ribble Borough Council for five years, where I worked tirelessly for our community and navigated the Council through the challenges of the Covid crisis.
 

I was raised in Barrow-in-Furness. My journey into public service began unexpectedly during the shipyard strikes of 1988, which led me to join the British Army’s Corps of Royal Engineers at the age of 18. Following a highly successful military career, I served operationally in Iraq (1992) and Kosovo (1999 and 2001), as well as tours of duty in Germany, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Belize, and the Falkland Islands, with a short stint Afghanistan in 2002. I retired from the army in 2003 and made South Ribble my home, where I’ve lived for over two decades.
 

After retiring from the military, I worked as a Construction Project Manager in various schemes around the North-West of England. I was later appointed Project Director for an international renewable energy organisation, overseeing projects in the UK, Poland, Lithuania, South Africa, Spain, and Mexico. Following this, I served as Project Director for the Port of Tyne in the North-East before establishing my own Project Management & Development Consultancy, delivering renewable energy, social housing, and student accommodation throughout the UK.
 

Politically, I was first elected as a local Councillor in 2007 on South Ribble Borough Council, a seat I successfully held for five elections over 17 years. I was elected the Leader of the South Ribble Labour Group in 2015 and became the Leader of the Council in 2019, a position I held until being elected the Member of Parliament for South Ribble in July 2024.

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My commitment to our community has always been my driving force, whether as a councillor or now as your MP. I focus on issues related to defence and local government, need new road infrastructure to lessen congestion and travel times and improve air quality, areas where I have considerable expertise.  I hope to be a strong constituency MP, ensuring that the residents of South Ribble receive the support they need.

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In my maiden speech, I highlighted the unique characteristics and challenges of South Ribble, reflecting the concerns of our community. I emphasised my commitment to public ownership of passenger railway services, the need for more quality housing and developments in the right places so that communities and families can continue to live together.
 

Representing South Ribble is a great honour, and I am committed to using my experience in the military, industry, and local government to serve our community effectively. I look forward to continuing my work in Parliament, always prioritising the needs of our constituents.