A decade of service. Four election victories. From Weald to Wilmington, Westerham to West Kingsdown.
“I don’t want to be an MP. I want to be MP for Sevenoaks.”
Richard Streatfeild MBE
Get In Touch“If Sevenoaks is to become a Liberal Democrat seat then we need to have a candidate we can sell in all corners of the constituency. Someone brought up in the Constituency, steeped in its history. Someone with the real-life experience to talk the language of business owners in Sevenoaks and Swanley, equally comfortable talking to veterans in West Kingsdown or Winery owners in Westerham, Special Needs at WeareBeams or Adult Social Care in Rockdale. Someone with a track record of practical policies to fight the cost of living and climate change. Someone who can help a Parish Council in any part of the constituency from Weald to Wilmington.
That’s the person who is going to win the seat.”
About Richard
Richard has been rebuilding Liberal Democrat support in Sevenoaks since 2013, through the difficult post-coalition years when it wasn’t particularly fashionable. He’s not someone who arrived when the seat became winnable; he’s the person who made it winnable.
His wife Rachel works in education in Swanley, his son works at Sevenoaks station. They live in Chiddingstone, where Richard runs Hoath House. This isn’t a political project, it’s home.
Relatable across the whole constituency. From Weald to Wilmington, Westerham to West Kingsdown, Richard knows this area because he’s lived it.
Experience & Education
BA (Hons) Politics with French
University of Warwick, 1992–1996
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Commissioned 1996–1997
MBA
The Open University (Ministry of Defence sponsored)
Member of the Order of the British Empire
MBE for services in Afghanistan
In The Media
Dispatches from Afghanistan
Sony Radio Award-winning reports from the front line in Sangin, broadcast on the Today programme.
Richard on BBC Hard Talk → Listen to Dispatches →Demanding Better for Veterans
Richard’s advocacy for the proper treatment of war veterans who served their country.
Read the article →Richard on Channel 4 News
Richard talks to Matt Frei about the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the ramifications of this action.
Watch the video →The Importance of Our Villages
Richard talks about why our villages matter and what needs to be done to protect them.
Watch on YouTube →Campaign Video
Richard Streatfeild’s campaign video for Sevenoaks.
Watch on Facebook →Richard takes on Reform
Watch Richard in action dealing with the budget proposals put forward by Reform at KCC.
Watch on YouTube →Hear From Richard
Penshurst Remembrance Installation 2017, Words by Major (Ret’d) Richard Streatfeild MBE
Why Richard?
He’s Done This Before (And Won)
Five elections, won four, increased the Liberal Democrat vote share by 6.4% in the 2024 general election. This isn’t theory, it’s a track record.
He’s Built This From Nothing
Richard has been rebuilding since 2013, at the Liberal Democrats’ lowest ebb. He didn’t arrive when the seat became winnable. He’s the person who made it winnable.
He’s Looked Into the Turquoise
As Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee, Richard understands the Reform UK threat and knows how to neutralise it. He knows the constituency in a way others do not.
He Understands the Electoral Arithmetic
The Conservative vote collapsed by 25 points. Reform took 18.7%. The path to victory runs through attracting moderate, centrist voters, and Richard is uniquely placed to do that.
He’s Likeable (Which Matters More Than We Admit)
Warm, self-deprecating, and easy to like. As one resident put it: “I usually vote Labour, but I voted for that man who stood last time.” You can’t teach that.
He’s Invested in the Next Generation
As a council candidate he took 5 interns from local schools, teaching them about political institutions and developing their confidence. Many went on to form Sevenoaks Young Liberals, an integral part of the 2024 campaign.
The Electoral Picture
Sevenoaks 2024: Vote Share
The Strategic Opportunity
Source: BBC Election Results 2024. Turnout 67.7% on electorate of 73,708.
Liberal Democrat Values
Richard’s approach is grounded in fairness, opportunity, and community. Pragmatism over ideology. A decade of casework, local campaigns, and real service. Not slogans.
Community First
A decade of casework, local campaigns, and showing up. Richard wasn’t parachuted in. He’s been here since 2013, through the difficult years, and he knows every corner of this constituency.
Fair Deal for Families
Centrist policies for cash-strapped middle-class families. Fair access to healthcare, housing, education and jobs. The chance to own a home, or rent affordably, in the community where you grew up.
Public Service
From Afghanistan to the council chamber, a lifetime of service. Richard joined the Liberal Party in 1989. His values pre-date Brexit and Iraq, born of a rejection of Thatcherism and a desire for a fairer, united society.
Building Coalitions
He’s won over voters across the spectrum. Richard has the profile to attract moderate Conservative voters and take on the Reform UK threat.
Priorities for Sevenoaks
From Weald to Wilmington, Westerham to West Kingsdown, the issues that matter to our communities.
Housing
Right size, right place for the right people. Every community needs houses that are affordable for the next generation and right size for the generation that has lived in a community, but needs to have somewhere that will keep them safe and near friends and family. The current housing policy of the District Council is unfair and unworkable. Each community should be given a fair housing target of each type of house, and then decide where it wants those houses. It should not solely be up to developers or landowners. Communities should decide.
Health
Sevenoaks has a healthcare lottery. Especially for GP surgeries. Some excellent practices sit close to practices where patients wait a month for an appointment. Richard will work with the Integrated Care Board to bring the right number of GPs to all our surgeries. He has already started, meeting with Matthew Doyle the new CEO of the ICB in mid-February.
Finishing What We Started
Richard has spent a decade doing the hard work. The Conservative majority has been halved. Reform UK has split the right. The path to victory is clear, and Richard is the candidate best placed to take it.
This is not the time to start again.
“Serve to lead. Stronger together. Fair to all.”
Richard for Sevenoaks 