Zöe Louise Franklin[1] is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Guildford since 2024.

After graduating her masters she worked in the creative sector initially for Surrey County Arts and then the educational publishers Rhinegold Education Ltd. She has described in interviews how it was there that she experienced a “quarter-life crisis” noting that she realised she wanted to do more to help people which led her to move into politics becoming Director of the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum.

Zöe’s political career began in May 2007 when she became the temporary director of the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum, in a 5-month maternity cover appointment.

In 2008, Franklin stood for election as Guildford Borough councillor for Stoke ward (now Bellfields and Slyfield) in a by-election.

Franklin was initially selected for Guildford in the 2017 general election, coming second to Anne Milton, who had held the seat since taking it from the Liberal Democrats in 2005.