James Monaghan (British politician)

James Monaghan is a British politician representing the Liberal Democrats. He is the prospective parliamentary candidate for the party in the West Yorkshire constituency of Morley and Outwood and is a serving councillor on Leeds City Council representing the ward of Headingley since 2005.

James was educated at Ackworth School in West Yorkshire and at Leicester University where he studied physics with Space Sciences and Technology. In 2000 he established a small software business. He was elected as a councillor for the Headingley ward of Leeds following a by-election caused by the elevation to parliament of sitting councillor Greg Mulholland also a Liberal Democrat, following the 2005 general election. In the local council elections of 2007 he was re-elected with 47% of the votes cast.

In 2009 Monaghan was chosen as a list candidate for the Yorkshire and Humber Liberal Democrats for the European elections held in June of that year. Elected by members using the Single Transferable Vote system, Monaghan was the fourth preference candidate. The party however only gained 13.18% of the vote across the region meaning that only the lead candidate from the list, Diana Wallis, was elected to the European parliament.

At the general election due to be held in 2010, Monaghan will represent the Liberal Democrats as their prospective parliamentary candidate for the constituency of Morley and Outwood.