| Ben Maguire | |
| Honorific-Suffix: | MP |
| Party: | Liberal Democrats |
| Office: | Member of Parliament for North Cornwall |
| Term Start: | 4 July 2024 |
| Predecessor: | Scott Mann |
| Majority: | 9,957 (19.4%) |
| Office1: | Liberal Democrat portfolios |
| Birth Date: | 10 August 1991 |
| Birth Place: | Truro, Cornwall, England |
| Suboffice1: | Shadow Attorney General |
| Subterm1: | 2024-Present |
Benedict Maguire (born 10 August 1991) is a Liberal Democrat politician and solicitor in the United Kingdom serving as Member of Parliament (MP) for North Cornwall since the 2024 general election.
Maguire currently sits on the Liberal Democrat frontbench team as their Shadow Attorney General.
Maguire was born in Truro and grew up in Withiel. His mother was a teacher and his father was a doctor, both working in Bodmin.[1]
Maguire worked as a parliamentary aide and constituency caseworker for Dan Rogerson and later Ian Swales. He also had research placements in the Hong Kong Legislative Council and the United States Senate. More recently, Ben has worked as a solicitor.[2]
In February 2024, Maguire was named as the Liberal Democrats' prospective parliamentary candidate for the North Cornwall.[3] At the 2024 general election, Maguire was elected to Parliament as MP for North Cornwall, receiving 47.0% of the vote and a majority of 9,957. The incumbent Conservative MP was unseated with a vote swing of 24.9% towards Maguire.[4]
Ben Maguire was sworn in after making the parliamentary oath in Cornish.[5] [6] On 15 July, Andrew George and Ben Maguire submitted a letter in support of Cornish devolution to the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. Maguire described existing devolved responsibilities as window-dressing that did not go far enough. He also stated his support for a Cornish Assembly akin to the Welsh Senedd, and rejected the notion of a Mayor of Cornwall.[7] [8]
On 18 September 2024, Ed Davey announced his new Frontbench Team, in which Ben Maguire took the position of Shadow Attorney General.[9]
On 10 October 2024, Ben Maguire made his maiden speech in the House of Commons.[10] Maguire has served as a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee since October 2024.[11]
On 16 October 2024, during Prime Minister's Questions, called on Keir Starmer to meet with the six Cornish MPs a Cornish Asembly, and critisied the top-down approach Westminster took towards devolution. Keir Starmer noted he was encoraging "broader" devolution deals regarding Combined Authorities, but agreed to meet with the MPs.[12] [13]
Maguire is married to his husband.[14]