Meet Martin Tod

At a glance, Martin is...

• Leader of the highly respected Winchester City Council and a Hampshire County Councillor - so very familiar with the nature and breadth of decisions, topics and responsibilities that the new Mayor needs to lead on.  
• A well-respected figure with an impressive track record of delivering MORE for residents as well as collaborating with other political parties to get the best outcomes for voters.
• Unrivalled in his political and business skills with the competence and credibility to hit the ground running on Day 1 as Mayor - ready to fight for our region.

Martin wants MORE for our region:

Martin has identified the potential of the Mayor’s considerable new powers in the Combined Authority to better meet residents’ needs for MORE on transport, jobs, housing, health, regeneration and the environment.  The pan-region approach that the Mayor’s powers can unlock presents further opportunity to address the boundaries that have curtailed the region's potential.
Martin’s proven approach is to listen to what residents and local leaders need and want, lead them to devise an ambitious and executable plan; then drive through the changes needed to deliver.

Martin delivers MORE for residents:

Martin intends to build on both his own record as Leader, Winchester City Council and the achievements of the other Liberal Democrat-led councils and Lib Dem councillors across our region.  Under Martin and the Lib Dems, communities have seen cuts in carbon, improved the quality of local air and water, built more council homes, built and expanded GP surgeries, increased recycling, improved local bus services and brought in £millions of investment. Improving the lives of residents is what drives Martin!

Martin has the skills to lead our region:

Martin’s majority election win at Winchester City Council and his achievements since as Leader are well documented. The Local Government Association reports: “The Leader [Martin Tod] is respected across the chamber, with his commitment to collaboration being perceived as genuine and recognised both within and beyond the district”. Martin was chosen by council leaders from all the region’s political parties to chair negotiations on local government reorganisation. Martin is also familiar with parliamentary committees and their workings, which will stand him in good stead when he joins the Prime Minister's Council of Nations to represent Hampshire and the Solent.

Martin has the right experience:

To succeed, our first Mayor must be taken seriously by investors and the business community. Martin worked for many years in senior business roles in the UK and Europe. His gravitas and authority on a wide variety of topics often means he is the go-to for press and media comment as well as TV and radio appearances in-person, giving him a chance to advocate for our region. Martin’s portfolio of experience is a perfect fit for the Mayor’s job spec!

Martin believes in homes for all:

Martin has lived his passion for housing and the provision of homes for everyone, as a Deputy Director for Shelter – the housing and homelessness charity.   He’s a regular ‘Big Sleepout’ participant and a serious raiser of donations to the cause. Martin is also a strong advocate for Mens’ Health – and ran a Mens' health charity for 10 years.  These experiences and his continuing involvement in these causes provides invaluable reality checks when formulating policy across a wide range of related topics, and keeps him grounded in what residents and voters really want and need.

Martin has strong roots in Hampshire:

Martin can trace his Hampshire and the Solent ancestors back to 1872, when his Great, Great, Great Grandfather was the Dean of Winchester! He’s lived in Winchester since 2007, with his wife Michaela and (especially given his ancestry) has a particular interest in local history and the increasingly successful sparkling wine industry of the region.