Selaine Saxby: Biography, Political Career, North Devon Work and Life After Parliament

Selaine Saxby is a British Conservative politician and former Member of Parliament who represented North Devon from 2019 until 2024. During her time in Parliament, she became associated with issues including rural communities, education, cycling and walking, digital connectivity, coastal development, community energy, tourism, pensions and the wider economic needs of North Devon. Her career also included work outside politics, including teaching, entrepreneurship and charitable fundraising.

Today, selaine saxby is no longer a sitting Member of Parliament. She left the House of Commons in 2024 after standing for re-election in North Devon. The 2024 General Election saw the constituency elect Liberal Democrat candidate Ian Roome, while Selaine Saxby finished second with 15,076 votes.

Her career is therefore best understood in two distinct periods: her professional and community work before entering Parliament, followed by her five-year period as North Devon’s MP and her subsequent move into work outside the House of Commons. Her official biography says that she has remained committed to North Devon and its communities after leaving Parliament.

Who Is Selaine Saxby?

Selaine Saxby is a British politician who served as the Conservative Member of Parliament for North Devon between December 2019 and May 2024. She was elected at the 2019 General Election and subsequently represented the constituency during a period that included the COVID-19 pandemic, major changes in the UK economy and debates surrounding rural services, infrastructure, energy and the future of coastal communities.

According to her own biography, Selaine Saxby comes from a family with a strong connection to education. Her father was the head of a large coastal comprehensive school, and she has described education and access to high-quality schooling as important areas of interest. She was largely state educated before attending the University of Cambridge, where she achieved a first-class degree.

Before becoming an MP, Selaine Saxby developed experience in business, education and charitable fundraising. She founded and ran Pink Aerobics between 2003 and 2013, an initiative that raised more than £500,000 for breast cancer charities through aerobathon events. She also ran an online business and worked as a mathematics teacher before entering national politics.

These different experiences formed an important part of the public profile she later brought to Parliament. Her background combined education, small-business experience, charity fundraising and local government involvement.

Selaine Saxby Early Life and Education

Selaine Saxby’s education has been an important part of her biography. Her official profile states that she was mostly state educated and later studied at Cambridge University, where she obtained a first. Her family background also had a strong connection with teaching, with her father serving as the head of a large coastal comprehensive school.

Her interest in education continued into her professional life. Before becoming a Member of Parliament, she worked as a mathematics teacher in Devon. This gave her experience of the education system from inside the classroom rather than solely through political or administrative work.

Education remained an area that Selaine Saxby discussed during her political career. Her interest was particularly connected to ensuring that children could access good-quality education regardless of where they lived. This was especially relevant to her political work in a rural constituency, where geography can affect access to services, schools and employment opportunities.

Her academic background also contributed to her later work in business and public policy. A first-class university degree provided one element of her professional profile, while her subsequent career gave her experience beyond academia.

Selaine Saxby Career Before Politics

Before entering Parliament, Selaine Saxby had a varied professional career. She worked in education, operated a business and became involved in charitable fundraising.

One of the most notable projects associated with her pre-political career was Pink Aerobics. According to her biography, she founded and ran the organisation from 2003 to 2013. Through a series of aerobathon fundraising events, the organisation raised more than £500,000 for breast cancer charities.

She also ran an online business for many years. Her entrepreneurial background became part of her public profile and later connected with her parliamentary interest in enterprise and the role of small businesses in local economies.

Selaine Saxby’s experience was therefore not limited to traditional political employment. Before becoming an MP, she had worked as a teacher, operated a business and organised large-scale charitable fundraising activities.

That mixture of professional experiences became relevant to her later political interests. During her parliamentary career, she participated in groups concerned with women and enterprise, rural services, tourism, community energy, digital communications and other areas affecting local economies.

Selaine Saxby and North Devon

North Devon was central to Selaine Saxby’s political career. She was elected as the area’s Conservative MP in December 2019 and represented the constituency until May 2024. Parliament records confirm that she was elected once and served in the Commons from 12 December 2019 until 30 May 2024.

The constituency presented a combination of rural and coastal issues. North Devon includes communities around Barnstaple and Ilfracombe as well as a large rural area. During her time as MP, Saxby frequently focused on issues involving local infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, community facilities and the coastal economy.

Her own political material described a goal of ensuring that investment in North Devon reflected the area’s particular combination of rural and coastal communities. She highlighted projects involving Barnstaple High Street, Ilfracombe, transport links, community facilities and local services.

Her approach to representing North Devon was therefore strongly connected to place. Rather than concentrating exclusively on national political questions, she regularly presented local infrastructure, rural services and economic development as important elements of her parliamentary work.

Selaine Saxby Parliamentary Career

Selaine Saxby entered the House of Commons following the 2019 General Election. Parliament records show that she represented North Devon from December 2019 until May 2024 and was affiliated with the Conservative Party during that period.

Her parliamentary career included committee work as well as participation in All-Party Parliamentary Groups. She was a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, which examined the policies and spending of the Department for Work and Pensions. The committee’s areas of interest included benefits, pensions and related policy matters.

She also served on several parliamentary committees dealing with individual pieces of legislation. Parliament records list her involvement with committees connected with subjects such as building safety, animal welfare, professional qualifications, flexible working, domestic abuse and child support, energy transmission and automated vehicles.

This committee work represented another part of her parliamentary role beyond constituency representation.

Selaine Saxby and All-Party Parliamentary Groups

A significant part of Selaine Saxby’s parliamentary profile involved All-Party Parliamentary Groups, commonly known as APPGs. These groups bring together MPs and peers who have an interest in particular subjects.

According to her official biography, Selaine Saxby chaired five APPGs and served as vice chair of ten. The groups she chaired included Broadband and Digital Communication, Celtic Sea, Cycling and Walking, Wood Panel Industry and Community Energy.

Her vice-chair responsibilities covered a broad range of subjects, including business during the COVID-19 period, dark skies, hospitality and tourism, the National Food Strategy, rural services, the South West, women and enterprise, ocean conservation, running and coastal communities.

The range of these groups provides an indication of the subjects she focused on during her time as an MP. They included both local concerns and wider national policy questions.

Digital communication was particularly relevant to rural areas, where broadband availability can have direct implications for education, employment and business. Likewise, her interest in cycling and walking connected with transport, health, tourism and the design of local communities.

Selaine Saxby and Rural Communities

Rural policy was one of the recurring themes associated with Selaine Saxby’s work in North Devon.

Rural communities can face different challenges from large urban areas. Long travel distances, limited public transport, broadband availability, access to health services, housing pressures and the sustainability of local businesses can all influence life in rural areas.

Selaine Saxby’s parliamentary activities included work relating to rural services and the South West. Her own constituency material also emphasised the importance of considering North Devon’s rural and coastal characteristics when developing housing and community projects.

During the 2024 General Election campaign, rural issues continued to feature in her public statements. Her campaign and parliamentary communications discussed agriculture, local services and the economic contribution of rural and coastal communities.

Her interest in these subjects was also connected with North Devon’s geography. The area includes farming communities, coastal settlements and tourism-related businesses, making rural policy an important part of the constituency’s economic and social environment.

Selaine Saxby and Cycling and Walking

Cycling and walking were another notable area of Selaine Saxby’s parliamentary activity. She chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking and discussed cycling and walking policy during the 2024 election period.

The subject has relevance beyond sport and recreation. Walking and cycling can affect transport planning, tourism, local business activity, road safety and the way communities are designed.

For a coastal and rural constituency such as North Devon, walking and cycling can also intersect with tourism. Visitors may use walking routes, cycling routes and other outdoor facilities as part of their experience of the region.

Selaine Saxby’s involvement in the parliamentary group placed her in discussions about how walking and cycling could form part of wider transport and local development policies.

Selaine Saxby and Digital Connectivity

Broadband and digital communications were also among the subjects associated with Selaine Saxby’s parliamentary work. She chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Broadband and Digital Communication.

Digital connectivity became increasingly important during the years she served in Parliament, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote working, online education, digital healthcare services and internet-based business activity all increased the importance of reliable connectivity.

For rural areas, broadband availability can have particular significance because businesses and households may be located far from major urban centres.

Saxby’s interest in digital communications therefore aligned with one of the practical challenges facing many rural communities: ensuring that residents and businesses can participate effectively in an increasingly digital economy.

Selaine Saxby and Community Energy

Community energy was another subject connected with Selaine Saxby’s parliamentary activities. Her official biography lists her as chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Community Energy.

Community energy can involve locally based approaches to renewable generation, energy efficiency and community participation. Such initiatives can be particularly relevant in rural and coastal areas where renewable-energy projects may form part of wider economic discussions.

Saxby also chaired the Celtic Sea APPG and discussed floating offshore wind projects during her time as North Devon’s representative. Her public statements in 2024 referred to developments in the Celtic Sea and the progress of floating offshore wind projects.

The Celtic Sea became an important subject in discussions about offshore renewable energy, particularly because of the potential relationship between energy generation, coastal communities, investment and local economic development.

Selaine Saxby and Education

Education has remained one of the recurring themes in Selaine Saxby’s public profile.

Her family background included teaching, and she herself worked as a mathematics teacher before entering Parliament. Her official biography states that she is passionate about access to education and ensuring that children receive an excellent education.

Her education-related perspective can also be viewed in the context of rural communities. Schools can play a major role in the identity and sustainability of smaller communities, while access to education can affect families’ decisions about where to live.

For rural constituencies, education policy can therefore involve questions about school provision, transport, staffing and the ability of young people to access further education and employment opportunities.

Selaine Saxby and Business Experience

Selaine Saxby’s business experience predates her parliamentary career. She ran her own online business and later became involved in parliamentary groups dealing with enterprise and business-related issues.

Her experience as an entrepreneur provided a different perspective from her teaching background. Running a business involves dealing with customers, finances, administration, marketing and changing economic conditions.

During her parliamentary career, she served as vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Women and Enterprise.

Her experience therefore connected several parts of her professional history: education, entrepreneurship, charitable work and public service.

Selaine Saxby and the 2024 General Election

Selaine Saxby’s parliamentary career ended following the 2024 General Election.

The election in North Devon took place on 4 July 2024. Six candidates contested the seat. Liberal Democrat candidate Ian Roome received 21,820 votes, while Conservative candidate Selaine Saxby received 15,076 votes. Roome therefore became the new MP for North Devon.

Selaine Saxby subsequently published a statement reflecting on the result. She described serving as North Devon’s MP as a major privilege and said she had worked for local communities, businesses, schools and charities during her time in office.

Her departure from Parliament marked the end of her formal role as North Devon’s MP but not the end of her involvement in professional and community-related work.

Selaine Saxby After Parliament

Following her time in Parliament, Selaine Saxby moved into a new stage of her professional career.

In 2026, she described completing examinations and obtaining a Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. She also announced that she had launched her own business as a self-employed Financial Planning Consultant with Quilter Financial Advisers.

This represented a significant change from her previous parliamentary role while still building on her earlier experience in business and financial matters.

Her post-parliamentary career demonstrates that leaving the House of Commons does not necessarily mean leaving public or professional life altogether. Former MPs can move into consultancy, business, education, charitable activity and other professional fields.

Selaine Saxby’s later work in financial planning added another dimension to a career that had already included teaching, entrepreneurship, charity fundraising and politics.

Selaine Saxby and Her Continuing Connection With North Devon

Although Selaine Saxby is no longer North Devon’s MP, her official website continues to describe her as committed to local communities in the area.

Her website contains information about her previous campaigns and positions on issues affecting North Devon. It also documents statements and articles covering subjects such as rural development, housing, hospitals, offshore wind, pensions, agriculture and local infrastructure.

Her post-parliamentary involvement means that North Devon remains an important part of her public identity, even though parliamentary representation has moved to a different MP.

The distinction is important: being a former MP means that she no longer represents North Devon in the House of Commons, but she can continue to engage with the area through community activity, business, public commentary and other initiatives.

Selaine Saxby and Her Public Profile

The public profile of Selaine Saxby has been shaped by several different careers rather than one single professional path.

Her background includes education, business, charitable fundraising, local government and national politics. She entered the House of Commons after years of experience outside Westminster and spent more than four years representing North Devon.

Her parliamentary interests were broad. They included rural communities, broadband, cycling and walking, community energy, coastal communities, tourism, enterprise, pensions and the Celtic Sea.

This broad portfolio reflected the characteristics of North Devon itself. The constituency combines urban centres with rural communities and a significant coastal economy. Issues such as tourism, agriculture, transport, housing, energy and digital connectivity can therefore overlap.

Selaine Saxby: A Career Across Education, Business and Politics

Looking at Selaine Saxby’s career as a whole reveals several distinct stages.

The first was her education and teaching career. Her mathematical education and work as a teacher established an early professional connection with education.

The second was entrepreneurship and charitable fundraising. Through her online business and Pink Aerobics, she developed experience in business organisation, public engagement and fundraising. Her charity activities raised more than £500,000 for breast cancer charities, according to her official biography.

The third stage was local and national politics. She became a North Devon councillor and then won election to Parliament in 2019. Her time as an MP lasted until 2024.

The fourth stage is her post-parliamentary professional career, including financial planning work reported in 2026.

Together, these stages create a varied professional biography. Selaine Saxby has moved between education, business, charity work, local government, Parliament and financial services during her career.

Frequently Asked Questions About Selaine Saxby

Who is Selaine Saxby?

Selaine Saxby is a British Conservative politician and former Member of Parliament who represented North Devon from December 2019 until May 2024. She was elected to Parliament in 2019 and later stood for re-election in North Devon at the 2024 General Election.

When was Selaine Saxby the MP for North Devon?

Selaine Saxby served as the MP for North Devon from 12 December 2019 until 30 May 2024, according to official UK Parliament records.

What did Selaine Saxby do before becoming an MP?

Before becoming an MP, Selaine Saxby worked as a mathematics teacher, ran an online business and founded Pink Aerobics. Her charitable fundraising activities through Pink Aerobics raised more than £500,000 for breast cancer charities, according to her official biography.

What parliamentary issues was Selaine Saxby involved in?

Selaine Saxby’s parliamentary interests included broadband and digital communications, cycling and walking, community energy, the Celtic Sea, rural services, tourism, coastal communities, women and enterprise and pensions. She chaired several All-Party Parliamentary Groups and served on the Work and Pensions Select Committee.

What is Selaine Saxby doing now?

After leaving Parliament, Selaine Saxby moved into work outside Westminster. In 2026, she stated that she had completed a Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning and launched a business as a self-employed Financial Planning Consultant with Quilter Financial Advisers.

Conclusion

Selaine Saxby has had a varied career spanning education, entrepreneurship, charity fundraising, local politics, Parliament and financial planning. Her five years as North Devon’s MP placed her at the centre of debates involving rural communities, coastal development, digital connectivity, energy, transport, tourism and local services.

Her parliamentary record includes membership of the Work and Pensions Select Committee and leadership roles in several All-Party Parliamentary Groups. Her work particularly reflected issues that were relevant to North Devon and the wider South West, including rural services, broadband, cycling and walking, community energy and coastal communities.

The 2024 General Election brought her parliamentary career to an end when Ian Roome won North Devon. Since then, Selaine Saxby has continued developing her professional career outside Parliament, including financial planning work reported in 2026.

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