About Matt

Matt Palmer

Matt Palmer stood as the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Bradford South in the 2010 General Election, reducing the Labour majorty by half. The constituency is one of three in Bradford, and covers the council wards of Queensbury, Great Horton, Tong, Wyke, Wibsey and Royds.

Matt went to school in Bradford and has lived in Bradford district for most of his life. He still lives in the district with his wife Mariya and five month old son, David.

Matt has represented Bradford residents for the last six years as a member of Bradford Council, where he Chairs the Corporate Improvement Committee, which is responsible for scrutinising the decisions of the executive in order to improve council services.

He is also a Governor of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and has made a national contribution to the NHS through the Foundation Trust Governors Association.

He is a former school governor, a father, and a committed campaigner for Bradford.

Campaigning on local issues

Matt is an experienced campaigner on local issues, having led a number of campaigns, including to keep Adult Education courses available after cuts in government funding, and to resolve a financial crisis at a local Hospital Trust that threatened healthcare provision.

In 2007, Matt brought Conservative Party Leader David Cameron to the district, along with shadow ministers, to look at the challenges to regenation in Bradford and the acheivements and problems so far, to find ways to speed up regeneration after the election and deliver real change in Bradford.

He has undertaken a number of local campaigns, including improving transport and road safety, to retain adult education provision, and to protect green spaces from development.

Making a difference: Matt cleaning up a park in Queensbury

No stranger to hard work

A qualified accountant and auditor, after working his way through a degree at Leeds Metropolitan Univerisity, Matt joined ‘big 4′ accountancy firm KPMG before moving to work with firm Bentley Jennison in Leeds, where he helped colleges, hospital trusts, and other public bodies across the country to deliver improved services.

In 2003 Matt set up an internet company which he ran for five years based in Bradford city centre, focusing on supporting small businesses and making web sites accessible to the disabled. In 2007 he moved to Skipton Building Society, where he now works to ensure that people’s money stays safe in the current difficult economic climate.

Your voice in Bradford

Matt would be pleased to hear from local residents about any issues or concerns. Please click here to get in touch.

If you would like to help us win in Bradford, please click here to join.