James MacCleary

James Neville MacCleary is an English Liberal Democrat politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Lewes since 2024. He defeated the Conservative incumbent, Maria Caulfield, with a majority of almost 13,000. MacCleary has served as a member of East Sussex County Council since 2021, and Lewes District Council from 2007 to 2015 and since 2019. He served as leader of the council from 20 July 2020 to 15 July 2021, He ran a business providing advice and training in communications and data protection.

Political career

Before Parliament MacCleary was a member of Lewes District Council for the ward of Bridge from 2007 to 2015, and has represented the ward of Newhaven South since 2019. He was the Liberal Democrat group leader and served as leader of the council from 20 July 2020 to 15 July 2021, and subsequently from 18 July 2022 to 22 May 2023. He alternated the role annually with Zoe Nicholson of the Green Party under the Co-operative Alliance.

In the 2021 council election, MacCleary was elected to East Sussex County Council for the division of Newhaven and Bishopstone. He was previously a member of Lewes Town Council from 2011 to 2015 and Newhaven Town Council from 2019 to 2023.

Parliamentary Career

Europe Spokesperson After his election he was appointed as the Europe spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats. In this role he introduced a Ten-Minute Rule Bill on the 15th of January calling for the UK Government to negotiate a new Youth Mobility Scheme with the European Union. He also called on the government to negotiate a bespoke Customs Union with the EU passing the Making the UK–EU Reset Summit Count motion at the Liberal Democrat party conference making it party policy.

He has been staunch in his opposition to Bidzina Ivanishvili and his ruling Georgian Dream. He has repeatedly called for sanctions against the Georgian regime due to their democratic backsliding and violent crackdown on protestors, leading them to accuse him of being a member of the Global War Party. He signed a joint letter with the U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson calling for sanctions on Georgia.

He is also amongst the British MPs that have been sanctioned by the Russian Federation.

He also has been highly critical of Milorad Dodik, the President of Republika Srpska. Calling for British troops to return to Operation Althea (EUFOR).

On the 30th of September 2025 he was reshuffled and Dr Al Pinkerton MP took over the Europe brief.

Defence Spokesperson On the 30th of September 2025 he was appointed as the Defence Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats replacing Helen Maguire MP in the role.

He launched the party’s defence bond policy that aims to raise £20 billion to fund rearmament. Personal life James lives in Newhaven with his partner who he met at university with their two young children who go to school locally.