Matt Turmaine

Matthew Robert Turmaine (born 1969) is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Watford since the 2024 general election. He was previously the Watford Borough Councillor for Holywell ward from 2012 until 2025.

Early life and education Turmaine was born in 1969 at Amersham Hospital in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. His father was a compositor and his mother was a dressmaker. Turmaine attended St Clement Danes School in Chorleywood and spent much of his childhood in Watford, before moving there permanently in 2011. In his 20s, he travelled around the United States, where he visited almost every state and slept rough in Los Angeles. He graduated with a degree in economics and modern history from the University of Birmingham.

Political career Turmaine joined the Labour Party in 2004, whilst living in London. He stood as the Labour Party candidate for one of the three Fulham Reach seats on the Hammersmith and Fulham Council in the 2006 election, where he received 1,207 votes and finished sixth out of eight candidates. In the 2010 Hammersmith and Fulham Council election, Turmaine stood as the Labour candidate for one of the three North End seats, receiving 1,679 votes and finishing sixth out of nine candidates. After moving to Watford in 2011, he stood as the Labour candidate for Holywell ward in the 2012 Watford Borough Council election, where he gained the seat from the Liberal Democrats with a majority of 710 votes. He was elected as the MP for Watford in the 2024 general election, defeating the Conservative incumbent Dean Russell with a majority of 4,723 votes.

Political positions Russia and Ukraine Turmaine supported Ukraine following Russia's 2022 invasion. In November 2024, he asked defense secretary John Healey what the government was providing to support Ukraine in "their quest to preserve their freedom".

Israel and Palestine In November 2023, Turmaine called the October 7 attacks "horrifying" and stated the situation in the Gaza Strip was a "humanitarian catastrophe". He stated his support for a ceasefire to alleviate the "suffering of Palestinian citizens" and called for Hamas to release their Israeli hostages. He also stated that it was "unacceptable" that Israel had not lifted siege conditions. In April 2024, Turmaine criticised attacks on World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza and called on the government to end British arms exports to Israel "in light of legal expertise and advice provided to [them]". In January 2025, he welcomed the ceasefire and stated that he hoped "with all that is good in the world, that peace will prevail and the violence is over".

Personal life Turmaine and his wife Jeanette have two children. Turmaine is a member of the LGBT+ community. Before his election to Parliament, he worked in health and social care for Hertfordshire County Council. Turmaine supports Watford FC.

Watford Borough Council

Hammersmith and Fulham Council