Ed Davey appoints new Veterans and Service Personnel Spokesperson to lead campaign for real action to honour military service

10 Nov 2026

Ed Davey appoints new Veterans and Service Personnel Spokesperson to lead campaign for real action to honour military service

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has today announced a number of new appointments to his frontbench, including RAF veteran Ian Roome in the newly-created role of Veterans and Service Personnel Spokesperson.

Taking up his post ahead of Armistice Day tomorrow, Ian Roome vowed to “change the culture in our society that too often treats veterans as an afterthought, and push for real action to honour all those who serve our country”.

Ian Roome is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies and member of the cross-party Defence Select Committee, and has been a strong advocate for Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families in Parliament since being elected MP for North Devon in 2024.

Also joining Davey’s frontbench is Lee Dillon as Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, while Bobby Dean – who was the party’s Shadow Leader of the House and has served on the Treasury Select Committee since 2024 – becomes Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Paul Kohler, the party’s Northern Ireland Spokesperson and a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, also becomes Immigration and Asylum Spokesperson.

Announcing the appointments, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said:

“I am delighted to welcome Lee and Ian to our frontbench team, as well as Bobby and Paul to their important new roles in our Treasury and Home Affairs teams. Together, they will help us hold the government to account, deliver the real change our country needs, and stop Nigel Farage turning Britain into his version of Trump’s America.

“Liberal Democrats have been leading the fight for real action to honour the incredible sacrifices made by those who serve in our Armed Forces and their families, and Ian’s new role as Veterans and Service Personnel Spokesperson will help us to deliver the change veterans urgently need.”

Ian Roome MP, the party’s new Veterans and Service Personnel Spokesperson, said:

“As we mark Armistice Day, we remember the enormous sacrifices that veterans and their families have made for our country. They deserve to know that our country will have their backs once they return to civilian life.

“The Liberal Democrats are determined to change the culture in our society that too often treats veterans as an afterthought, and push for real action to honour all those who serve our country.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

All of the new appointees were first elected to Parliament at the 2024 general election.

Ian Roome is MP for North Devon. He has been a member of the Defence Select Committee since October 2024 and also served on the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill.

Bobby Dean is MP for Cashalton and Wallington. He has been a member of the Treasury Select Committee since October 2024. He was appointed as Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House in September 2025.

Lee Dillon is MP for Newbury. He serves on the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee, the Procedure Committee and the Backbench Business Committee.

Paul Kohler is MP for Wimbledon. He has been the Liberal Democrat Northern Ireland Spokesperson since September 2025, and a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee since October 2024.

Full Liberal Democrat frontbench team:

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP

Deputy Leader and Treasury Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP

Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP

Cabinet Office Spokesperson Lisa Smart MP

Health and Social Care Spokesperson Helen Morgan MP

Education, Children and Families Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Spokesperson Tim Farron MP

Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Calum Miller MP

Home Affairs Spokesperson Max Wilkinson MP

Business Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP

Justice Spokesperson Jess Brown-Fuller MP