Ed McGuinness grew up in Belfast in the 1990s and early 2000s during the transition from the Troubles to a lasting, but vulnerable peace. It was during this time he realised the value politicians can make to a country and community. When he was young, Conservative values of hard work and public service were instilled in him notably by his mother and father; a teacher and an accountant respectively, who gave a strong sense of family and community.
Ed studied Mathematics at the University of St Andrews, in Scotland and he commissioned into the Territorial Army (now known as the Reserves) in 2010. Following graduation, Ed was selected to attend the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and commissioned as a regular British Army officer, in August 2012.
During his six years in the Royal Artillery, Ed deployed to Afghanistan in 2014, running intelligence gathering operations to secure the withdrawal of British Forces from Helmand. Following this he went on to lead teams in Kenya and Canada. Ed finished his regular military service in 2018 as a Forward Air Controller, leading a team of specialist soldiers to co-ordinate the airspace in a highly pressured environment – a role he considers a highlight of his career. Speaking of his military career Ed says, “leading the fine men and women of the British Army was a true privilege, I learned so much from them and their capacity for selflessness is astonishing. It has shaped who I am today.”
In February 2018 Ed began to work for a leading, global financial services company. Ed also became active in his local Conservative Federation. Quickly taking on the role of Deputy Chair (Political), Ed also ran elections and became a Chairman of his local Conservative Association. During this tenure Ed was a passionate advocate of his local area and was a school governor.
In June 2024 Ed was selected as the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Surrey Heath. Ed is a director of Conservative Friends of the Armed Forces (championing Armed Forces and service in the Party) and was, until very recently, Chairman of the International Cultural Youth Exchange - UK charity (bringing volunteers from all over the world to experience the values and culture of the UK).
In his spare time Ed likes SCUBA diving, running and making models of aircraft (when he is allowed to by his less than enthusiastic fiancé!)