Born to Ray and Naomi Salter in Hampton, Middlesex,[REF] Martin received a grammar school education before attending the University of Sussex,[REF] though he left before gaining a degree, saying 'academic life was not for him - "I wanted to do politics, not study it"' [REF].
Starting in 1975, Salter began employment in the construction and transport industries, holding various jobs from a labourer to a cargo handler.