Liberal Democrat MP and Shadow Minister
In May 2002, Marsden was promoted to Shadow Health Minister for the Liberal Democrats reporting to Evan Harris, in charge of a portfolio covering mental health, prison health and aspects of cancer care.
In June 2002, Marsden presented the Prescriptions (Chronic Diseases) Bill, which aimed to introduce a fairer system for issuing prescriptions' exemptions for patients with acute conditions. Although the Bill, received cross party support it ran out of parliamentary time before the summer recess. The Bill received backing from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the National Asthma Campaign.
In August 2002 he visited Malawi to turn the media spotlight on the southern African famine and later he travelled to Johannesburg to lobby the United Nations conference discussing the famine affecting Southern Africa. His accusations that the failures of the International Monetary Fund had exacerbated the famine, caused a public argument with the IMF Director.
In February 2003, prior to the war in Iraq, he visited the USA to give a speaking tour opposing the impending war and laid a Union flag and wreath in commemoration of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks at Ground Zero. He also attended the United Nations Security Council session considering the looming war on 14 February. Marsden strongly opposed the war in Iraq and repeatedly voted for an inquiry into the alleged intelligence failings and concerns that parliament was misled.
On the second anniversary of 9/11, he visited the Slobodan Milosevic trial in The Hague and met with prosecution lawyers at the International Criminal Court.
Marsden was declared the leading rebel on all parliamentary votes by The Times in 2003.
In October 2003, Marsden was appointed the number two behind John Thurso as Shadow Transport Minister for the Liberal Democrats and nominated as a member of the Transport Select Committee.
In April 2004, Marsden set the fifth fastest time for MPs completing the London Marathon out of forty two that have taken part since it began in 1981, with a time of 3 hours 18 minutes 1 second.
On 26 August 2004, Marsden became one of only twenty cross party MP's to back the Impeach Blair campaign with the aim of holding Blair to account over the highly controversial war in Iraq. The campaign used legal counsel for advice but was unable to secure enough support for progressing the impeachment in parliament.
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