In this episode of Meet the MP, Nicola Richards sits down with Alex Ballinger, the elected Labour MP for Halesowen, to discuss his remarkable journey from the Royal Marines to the House of Commons.

Alex shares how four generations of military service shaped his early life, his experience serving in Afghanistan, and why he chose to transition from the armed forces into diplomacy and international development. He reflects candidly on his work overseas with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the impact of aid cuts, and his frontline role in evacuating vulnerable Afghans during the fall of Kabul.

The conversation explores the link between defence and development, the global challenges facing the UK, and why Alex believes international leadership still matters. Closer to home, he discusses what drove him to stand for Parliament, the priorities he has set for Halesowen - from town centre regeneration to supporting manufacturing - and the realities of life as a newly elected MP.

From the pressures of parliamentary workload to tackling gambling harms among veterans, this is a thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion about service, responsibility and what it means to represent a community at a pivotal moment in British politics.

Whether you’re interested in defence, foreign policy, regeneration or the personal journeys that lead people into public life, this episode offers an engaging insight into one of Parliament’s newer voices.

Meet the MP is an exciting new podcast from Cratus Group, hosted by Nicola Richards, Director of Cratus Group and former MP for West Bromwich East. This series offers listeners a unique opportunity to meet the fresh faces of British politics - the newly elected MPs from the 2024 General Election.