Layla Moran has been Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon since 2017. Born in Hampstead, Moran studied physics at Imperial College London and taught in Brussels and London. In 2010 she fought Battersea and was a candidate in the 2012 London Assembly elections. In 2015 she fought Oxford West and Abingdon, keeping second place and gained it at her second attempt, defeating Tory minister Nicola Blackwood and becoming the first MP of Palestinian descent. She served as spokesperson for Education 2017-20. Following the defeat of party leader Jo Swinson at the 2019 election, Moran stood in the subsequent leadership contest, losing to Sir Ed Davey. Following the election, Layla Moran was appointed spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and International Development.