Ian Roome | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament forNorth Devon | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Selaine Saxby |
| Majority | 6,744 (13.1%) |
| Councillor forDevon County Council | |
| Assumed office 7 May 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Brian Carol |
| Majority | 662 (19.7%) |
| Councillor forNorth Devon District Council | |
| Assumed office 7 May 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Colin James Payne |
| Majority | 1037 (4.2%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1968 (age 56–57) Sheffield,Yorkshire, England |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Chaucer Comprehensive School |
| Website | www |
Ian Roome (/ruːm/ ⓘ) is a BritishLiberal Democrat politician who was elected as the Member of Parliament forNorth Devon in the2024 United Kingdom general election.[1]
He previously served for two terms asMayor of Barnstaple.[2]
Roome was born and raised in Sheffield, attendingChaucer Comprehensive School from 1979 to 1985.
After leaving school, Roome joined theRoyal Air Force in 1986, serving across the United Kingdom, as well as in Germany atRAF Laarbruch. He first came to North Devon in 1989, after being posted toRAF Chivenor.[3] Later, while serving as Mayor of Barnstaple in 2018, he would help to keepRM Chivenor operational, lobbying the Defence Secretary to keep the base open, after it was announced in 2016 that it could be facing potential closure.[4]
After leaving the Royal Air Force Roome worked in mental health nursing atNorth Devon District Hospital, after which he decided to work as a community mental health worker across North Devon.[5]
Roome began his political career in 2003, serving as a Councillor for Barnstaple Town Council. During his time as a Barnstaple Town Councillor he held numerous notable positions, such asMayor of Barnstaple and Chair of the Staff Committee. In 2011, during his tenure as a Barnstaple Town Councillor, he founded and managed a £2.5 million fundraising campaign to build a Chemotherapy and Day Treatment Unit at theNorth Devon District Hospital.[6] He also managed an additional £1.5 million capital campaign to build a Cancer and Wellbeing unit at the North Devon District Hospital.[7]
Roome was first elected to represent Yeo Valley on the North Devon District Council in May 2015.[8] He was re-elected in May 2019[9] to represent Barnstaple with Pilton Ward, which he continues to represent today.[10] He is Leader of the Council andLiberal Democrat Group.[11]
Roome was elected to represent Barnstaple North on theDevon County Council in May 2021. Alongside this he serves on the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority.[12]