Max Wilkinson

Maximilian Peter McGregor Wilkinson (born 16 March 1984) is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He attended Broadoak Community School and Churchill Community School before studying business management and administration at Cardiff University (2003–2007). After graduating, he worked as a journalist, first at The Weston Mercury and later as a reporter for the Gloucestershire Echo. He also worked freelance as a sports reporter covering football matches in the West of England.

Wilkinson moved into communications, working for Cheltenham Ladies College (2012–2014) and then for the PR and communications agency Camargue in Cheltenham (2014–2021). He entered local politics in 2014, winning a seat on Cheltenham Borough Council for Park ward, later representing Oakley ward from 2018. He served as the council's first Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency from 2020 until standing down as a councillor in May 2024.

At the 2017 general election, Wilkinson stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate in Stroud, finishing third. In the 2019 general election, he contested Cheltenham, coming second with 46.3% of the vote. He was elected as MP for Cheltenham on 4 July 2024 with 50.6% of the vote and a majority of 7,210, defeating the incumbent Conservative Justice Secretary Alex Chalk.

In Parliament, Wilkinson served as Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport (2024–2025) and currently serves as Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Home Affairs (2025–present). He has been vocal on gambling reform, calling for a statutory levy on gambling companies and an increase in remote gaming duty. He is vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm.