Born in London in 1953, Diane Abbott would go on to become the first black woman ever elected to Parliament, representing the diverse north London constituency of Hackney North and Stoke Newington. Abbott has for many years been an important voice on the left of the Labour Party.

In April 2023, she lost the Labour Party whip at Westminster following a controversial letter that she wrote to the Observer newspaper about racism.  The Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge, who is Jewish, described the letter “deeply offensive and deeply distressing”.

Diane Abbott’s letter was ‘deeply wrong, historically wrong, and offensive’, says shadow minister

In September 2023, Abbott claimed that Labour’s whips office is no longer conducting a formal investigation.

She said that the internal inquiry is “now run entirely out of the Labour party HQ, which reports to Keir Starmer – and there is no investigation”.

She added: “I am the longest-serving black MP. Yet there is widespread sentiment that as a black woman and someone on the left of the party, that I will not get a fair hearing from this Labour leadership.”

Abbott’s career in front line politics advanced most notably during Jeremy Corbyn’s time as Labour Leader.  A key-ally to Corbyn, Abbott was, consecutively, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development (2015-2016) and Shadow Home Secretary (2016-2020). Under Ed Miliband, Abbott served on the shadow health team (2010-2013).

Since Keir Starmer’s election as Labour leader, Abbott has been sidelined, and from her position on the back-benches, and at times, has been critical of the party’s new leadership.

Political Career

Having been elected as the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington in 1987—a borough located in north-London, Abbott initially didn’t progress far within the Parliamentary Labour Party, particularly during the era of New Labour. Through much of the 1990s, Abbott served on the Treasury Select Committee of the House of Commons, after which she joined the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

In 2010, Abbott made a bid for the Labour Leadership. She limped through the contests’ first-round with the minimum 33 MP endorsements. Fellow leadership contender David Miliband was said to have lent Abbott his vote, reportedly in hope that she might subsequently deprive his brother, Ed, of left-wing support. Facing the Milibands, Andy Burnham and Ed Balls in the contest, Abbott described her opponents as ‘geeky men in suits’.

Abbott was an outspoken supporter of Jeremy Corbyn and served in his shadow Cabinet throughout his time as Labour leader.

Diane Abbott and Keir Starmer

Following the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s finding that the Labour Party broke equality law during the leadership of Corbyn, the former Labour leader was suspended from the party. Abbott was prominent in her opposition to Corbyn’s expulsion and she shared a petition on social media to demand Corbyn be reinstated.

Abbott tweeted, ‘He has always stood with us.  We must stand with him’.

Abbott has accused Keir Starmer of using his remain platform during his time in Corbyn’s Shadow Cabinet as a project of his own so to become Labour Leader. The former Shadow Home Secretary told the BBC Newsnight that Starmer’s ambition was ‘apparent’.

Following the announcement of a police investigation into whether Sir Keir Starmer may have broken lockdown rules by having a beer and takeaway with staff at an event in Durham in 2021, Diane Abbott was one of the first Labour MPs to suggest Sir Keir should “consider his position” if he was fined by police.

Political Views and Controversies

A committed Socialist, Abbott is a long time member of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs; Jeremy Corbynand John McDonnell are also members.

Diane Abbott: London shouldn’t have another white, middle-aged man as mayor

Abbott was criticised in 2003 for sending her son to private school—a move many felt was inconsistent with her socialist values. Abbott had previously criticised her Labour colleagues—including Tony Blair—of being ‘intellectually incoherent’ when they did the same.

When questioned about the controversy, Abbott has defended her decision saying,’I had to choose between my reputation as a politician and my son’.

As Shadow Home Secretary at the time, Abbott led the Labour response to the ‘Windrush Scandal’. Abbott repeatedly questioned then-Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, on the matter and called on him to publish the figures for people caught up in the affair.  Abbott continues to champion the Windrush cause.

Abbott apologises for ‘white people’ jibe

Background

How old is Diane Abbott?
Diane Julie Abbott was born on the 27thof September 1953.

What did Diane Abbott do before politics?
After graduating with a history degree from Cambridge University, Abbott became a Civil Servant at the Home Office.

Following this, Abbott went on to work for the lobby group the National Council for Civil Liberties (now Liberty), and became a journalist.

As a journalist, Abbott worked as a reporter for the breakfast television company TV-AM and for Thames Television. She also worked as a public relations consultant for various public sector clients.

Is Diane Abbott married?
Diane Abbott was married to David Ayensu-Thompson, a Ghanaian architect. The two divorced in 1993.

Diane Abbott – 3 Things you may not know

She turned down an invitation for Celebrity Come Dancing
In 2020, Abbott was invited to participate in Strictly Come dancing. Abbott refused the invitation, later telling BBC Radio Four’s ‘Today Programme that she thought about the decision for about ‘sixty seconds’.

She once had a romantic relationship with Jeremy Corbyn
In the early 1970s, Abbott was romantically involved with one Jeremy Corbyn, her future boss, while he was a Councillor in north London.

Diane Abbott and Michael Portillo
At neighbouring schools in their youth, Abbott and Michael Portillo have known each other since childhood. At a joint-school production, the two performed in a production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’—albeit not in the title roles.

Abbott would later reunite with Portillo on BBC One’s ‘This Week’ programme.

Social Media

Twitter Handle — @HackneyAbbott

Facebook Address — @Dianeabbott

Personal Website — http://www.dianeabbott.org.uk/

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Oldham East and Saddleworth is the more affluent of the two Oldham seats and spreads out from the centre of Oldham to include a number of Pennine villages and Saddleworth Moor.  The seat has been held by Labour since 1997, albeit was for a number of years a close Labour – Liberal Democrat marginal.  Some three fifths of the local electorate here backed Brexit in the 2016 Eu referendum.

Abrahams previously served in the Shadow Cabinet under Jeremy Corbyn as Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, between 2016 and 2018.

Born in 1960, Abrahams was educated at Salford University, and worked as a public health consultant before being elected to Parliament.  She was Chair of Rochdale Primary Care Trust between 2002 and 2007 but resigned in protest at the use of private companies in the NHS.

Abrahams backed Sir Keir Starmer in the 2020 Labour leadership election.  She backed Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 content, and Andy Burnham in the 2015 election.

She is married with two daughters, her husband John Abrahams, was once captain of Lancashire County cricket team.

Abrahams is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Kashmir; Health in all politics; Universal Credit; Women in the Penal System; Dementia; and Compassionate Politics.  She is Vice Chair of the Groups on Race Inequality; Unconscious Bias; Events; and the Green New Deal.

Email: abrahamsd@parliament.uk

Personal Website: http://www.debbieabrahams.org.uk

Twitter: @Debbie_abrahams

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Debbie-Abrahams

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His rural Hertfordshire constituency is found to the north of St Albans running up to the border with Bedfordshire, and covers the towns of Hitchin and Harpenden, as well as a number of surrounding villages like Redbourn.  Once a safe Conservative constituency represented by the former Conservative Cabinet Minister, Peter Lilley, this area of Hertfordshire has been tracking towards the Liberal Democrats in recent years, and three fifths of the population backed Remain in the 2016 EU referendum.  It contains a  high number of London commuters.

Born in 1986, Afolami was educated at Eton and Oxford University. He worked as a corporate lawyer at Freshfields, and then as an executive at HSBC, before being elected to Parliament.

His father was a doctor who came to the UK from Nigeria, his mother was a pharmacist.

He is non-executive director of Apprentify, an organisation which helps provide apprenticeships to young people

Afolami opposed Brexit in the 2016 EU referendum, and worked previously as an advisor to George Osborne.  He supported Boris Johnson in the 2019 Conservative leadership election, but is regarded as sitting more on the centre left of the Conservative Party.

Afolami likes football, supports Arsenal, and himself played football for Oxford University.   He is married with three children.

Afolami resigned as a Conservative Party Vice Chair in July 2022 in protest at the continuing party leadership of Boris Johnson.

He is  Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Renewable and Sustainable Energy, and Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Group on International Conservation.

Email: bim.afolami.mp@parliament.uk

Website – www.bimafolami.co.uk/

Twitter – @BimAfolami

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The Windsor constituency in Berkshire contains the town of Windsor and a number of prosperous smaller settlements along the River Thames.  One of the most affluent seats in the United Kingdom, house prices are extremely high, and the seat contains a large number of London commuters.   The Ascot race course and Eton school are both found here.  It has been held by the Conservative ever since 1874, and is one of the party’s safest seats in the country.  This constituency is affected by noise from Heathrow airport, and the expansion of the airport is an important issue locally.

Born in 1965, Afriyie grew up in Peckham and was educated at Imperial College in Wye.  He was an  entrepreneur before being elected to Parliament.

Afriyie joined the Conservative Party in 1990, and later campaigned for Jeffrey Archer – when he attempted to be elected as Mayor of London in 1999.  He, was previously a member of the Science and Technological select committee and of the Children,

Having served as a Shadow Science Minister between 2005 and 2010, Afriyie was overlooked for Ministerial office when the Conservatives entered into coalition with the Liberal Democrats in 2010.

He came to prominence later in that Parliament as a potential stalking horse to challenge David Cameron, in a move that never generated much momentum.

In July 2022, Mr Afriyie announced that he plans to step down from parliament at the next General Election.

Adam Afriyie voted against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill in 2013 and the Equal Pay (Transparency) Bill in 2014.

Afriyie supported Brexit in the 2016 EU referendum, and is generally considered to be on the free market wing of the party. He has called for the simplification of the tax system.

Born in 1965 from an English mother and a Ghanaian father, he was the first Conservative mixed-race MP. He defines himself not as black but as “post-racial”.  He is married with four children, and enjoys running.

In late 2021, a series of media articles reported that Afriyie was involved in an ongoing dispute with HMRC.

He is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on FinTech; and Freedom of Speech.  He Patron of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Space.

Email: adam.afriyie.mp@parliament.uk

Personal Website: http://adamafriyie.org/

Twitter: @AdamAfriyie

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adam-Afriyie/

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As per its name, her constituency covers the very heart of London and includes the financial districts of London and Westminster itself.   Most of London’s major landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament, the Bank of England, Trafalgar Square, Downing Street, London’s Theatre district, and Oxford Street are contained within this seat.

In a tightly fought three way contest  in 2019, Aiken won with‌ ‌a‌ ‌majority‌ ‌of 3,953‌ over‌ ‌the‌ ‌Liberal Democrats where the seat was contested by the former Labour MP turned Liberal Democrat, Chuka Umuna.  With over 71% supporting Remain in the 2016 EU referendum, the local electorate in this constituency were some of the most opposed to Brexit anywhere in England.

Aiken was appointed Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party with responsibility for women in late 2020.

Born‌ ‌in 1969, Nickie Aiken was‌ ‌educated‌ ‌at‌ Exeter University. She worked in Public Relations for Bradford and Bingley, and as Press Secretary to William Hague before being elected to Parliament.

First elected to Westminster City Council in 2006, she was elected Leader the Council in 2017 before stepping down in 2019.

At Westminster, she is Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups for the Short Lets Sector, and Vice Chair on the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Homelessness, Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, and Theatre.

She is married with two children, and lives in Pimlico.

Email – nickie.aiken.mp@parliament.uk

Website‌ ‌–‌ ‌ ‌ www.nickieaiken.org.uk

Twitter‌ ‌–‌ ‌ ‌@NickieAiken_MP

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• The Waveney constituency covers the larger coastal town of Lowestoft, and the smaller towns of Beccles and Bungay in the north eastern corner of Suffolk.  It is the UK’s most eastern constituency. The local economy is dominated by the sea, whether that be the fishing fleet, or the local offshore energy industry.  This seat was was held by the Labour Party between 1997 and 2010 and is a marginal constituency that would likely change hands with the government of the day.   A high 63% of voters backed Brexit in the 2016 referendum.

Born in 1971, Aldous was born in Suffolk and educated at Harrow and Reading University.  He worked as a pig and arable farmer and as a Chartered Surveyor in Norwich and Ipswich before becoming an MP. He remains a Partner in the family farm in Halesworth, Suffolk.

He was a Waveney District Councillor from 1999 to 2002 and a Suffolk County Councillor from 2001 to 2005. In 2002 he was appointed Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group on Suffolk County Council.

Aldous supported Michael Gove in the 2019 Conservative leadership contest.  In the past he has expressed concern about the implementation and roll out of Universal Credit.

In early 2022, Aldous called on Boris Johnson to resign as prime minister.

He is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Holiday Parks and Campsites ; Housing and Social Mobility; and Housing and Care for Older People; the British Offshore Oil and Gas Industry; and Intelligent Energy.

He supports Ipswich Town Football Club, and enjoys squash.

Email: peter.aldous.mp@parliament.uk

Personal Website: www.peteraldous.com

Twitter: @peter_aldous

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/peteraldouswaveney?fref=ts

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She currently serves as the Shadow Minister for Investment and Small Business, having been appointed to the role in Keir Starmer’s September 2023 reshuffle.

The Bethnal Green & Bow constituency contains the heart of London’s east end in the Borough of Tower Hamlets.  It includes Brick Lane, Mile End, Shadwell, and Bethnal Green.  The seat is one of the most ethnically diverse in the UK with one of the highest proportions of Muslim voters.  Traditionally a Labour seat it was briefly held by George Galloway and his Respect party between 2005 and 2010.

Born in 1975, Rushanara Ali grew up in Tower Hamlets, having moved to the UK from Bangladesh at the age of seven.  She attended Mulberry School, Tower Hamlets College, and Oxford University.

Prior to becoming an MP, she worked as a researcher in Parliament, for the Institute for Public Policy Research, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Home Office and as an Associate Director of the Young Foundation in Bethnal Green.

She supported Kier Starmer for the Labour leadership in 2020.  She supported Jeremy Corbyn in the 2015 Labour leadership election, but then backed Owen Smith when he challenged Corbyn one year later.

In April 2016 Ali was appointed as the Prime Minster’s Trade Envoy to Bangladesh, a cross-party programme aiming to build business and bilateral trade relationships and help drive economic growth in developing countries.

Rushanara Ali jointly became Britain’s first female Muslim MP when elected in 2010 alongside Yasmin Qureshi and Shabana Mahmood.

She is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Philanthropy and Social Investment; the Rights of the Rohingya; Bangladesh; and Burma.

Email: rushanara.ali.mp@parliament.uk

Personal Website: www.rushanaraali.org

Twitter: twitter.com/rushanaraali

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rushanara-Ali/

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The Birmingham Hall Green constituency ‌is‌ ‌found‌ to the south east of Birmingham covering the areas of Hall Green, Moseley and King’s Heath, Sparkbrook and Springfield‌.‌‌  It has one of the largest electorates of Asian descent in the UK, with two thirds of the electorate being non-white.  Sarehole Mill, the inspiration for Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, is found in this seat.

Held by the Conservatives under 1997, the recent electoral change in this area has been vast.  This seat is now amongst the top ten safest Labour seats in Parliament.

Born‌ in 1971, Tahir previously ‌worked‌ for Royal Mail after securing an engineering apprenticeship at age 17.

Tahir is an active trade unionist and served as a political officer for the Communication Workers Union, ‌before‌ ‌being‌ ‌elected‌ ‌to‌ Parliament.‌ ‌

He is married with 4 children.  Considered to be on the left of the Labour Party he supported Rebecca Long-Bailey in the 2020 Labour Leadership election.

He is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Bangladesh, Palestine, and Pakistan.

Email – tahir.ali.mp@parliament.uk

Twitter‌ ‌–‌ ‌ ‌ @TahirAliMP

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Telford is a compact constituency in Shropshire.  It contains the old industrial towns of Madely and Dawley, and a number of New Town developments such as Woodside.  Telford is a typical swing seat which was held by Labour between 1997 and 2015.  It was won by the Conservatives in both 2015 and 2017 with ultra low majorities, but the party gained the seat comfortably in 2019, in part related to the fact that a high two thirds (66%) of voters backed Brexit in the 2016 EU referendum.

Born in 1964, Lucy Allan attended Durham University. In a varied career before entering Parliament, Allan was formerly a Chartered Accountant with PWC, then worked in the City for UBS and Mercury Asset Management, before retraining as an employment lawyer and setting up her own employment law firm.

In 2012, Allan founded Family First Group, a lobby group which campaigns to reduce the number of children in state care, for improvements to the UK child protection system and support for families affected by it.

Allan is on the libertarian wing of the Conservative Party, and citing the importance of personal responsibility has said that she was uncomfortable with both the sugar tax and the smoking ban.  She is supportive of assisted dying.

She served as a councillor on Wandsworth Council between 2006 and 2012.

Allan is Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Choice at the End of Life; and an Officers of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Looked After Children and Care Leavers

She is married with one son.

Email:  lucy.allan.mp@parliament.uk

Personal Website: http://www.lucyallan.com/

Twitter: twitter.com/lucyallan

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The Tooting constituency ‌is‌ ‌a compact South London seat which covers the areas of Tooting, Balham, Earlsfield and Wandsworth common.

Tooting is an ethnically diverse area, and this is also one of the youngest seats in the UK with two fifths of the population aged between 25 and 44.  Three quarters of the electorate voted to remain in the 2016 EU referendum, one of the highest figures in the UK.  It is a safe Labour seat.

‌Allin-Khan was appointed‌ ‌as‌ Shadow Minister of State for Mental Health in 2020. She left the frontbench as part of Keir Starmer September 2023 reshuffle, after the Labour leader privately confirmed to her that the mental health brief would no longer come with shadow cabinet attending privileges.

She stood as a candidate for the 2020 Labour Party deputy leadership election, where she came second to Angela Rayner.

Born‌ ‌in 1977‌ in Tooting, Rosena studied medical biochemistry ‌at‌ Brunel University and later studied medicine at Cambridge University.

She is a qualified doctor and worked at the Royal London and Homerton Hospitals and later as a humanitarian aid doctor in Gaza and Israel, Africa and Asia, before‌ ‌being‌ ‌elected‌ ‌to‌ Parliament.‌ ‌

During the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, she worked a number of shifts in at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, as well as serving as a MP and shadow minister.

She attends her local amateur boxing club, and also assists as one of the club’s medical officers. She is married with two daughters.

Email –  rosena.allinkhan.mp@parliament.uk

Website‌ ‌–‌ ‌ ‌ www.drrosena.co.uk

Twitter‌ ‌–‌ ‌ ‌@DrRosena

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The Weaver Vale constituency ‌is‌ ‌found‌ ‌to the north of the‌ ‌county‌ ‌of‌ Cheshire and‌ ‌covers‌ Runcorn, Northwich and the smaller towns of Frodsham, Helsby.  It is a tightly fought marginal seat which Labour held between 1997 and 2010, before the seat swung back to the Conservatives between 2010 and 2017, and then back to Labour.  Half the electorate backed Brexit, and half backed Remain in the 2016 EU referendum.

Mike Amesbury was‌ ‌appointed‌ ‌as‌ the Shadow Minister of State for Housing and Planning ‌in‌ April 2020.‌ ‌ He nominated Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership in 2020.

Born‌ ‌in 1969, Mike Amesbury was‌ ‌educated‌ ‌at Bradford University and the University of Central England‌. He previously worked‌ as a manager with the Connexions careers advice service, and was a trade unionist with Unison.  He also served as Senior Parliamentary Adviser to Andy Burnham, and then to Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner‌, ‌before‌ ‌being‌ ‌elected‌ ‌to‌ Parliament.‌ ‌

Amesbury was involved in Andy Burnham’s campaign to become the Greater Manchester Mayor.

In 2020 he successfully took a Private Members Bill through Parliament to reduce the cost of school uniforms.

Amesbury sat on Manchester City Councillor between 2006 and 2017.

At Westminster, Amesbury is Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on the Chemical Industry; the Liverpool City Region; the Northern Powerhouse; and Whistleblowing.

He is married with one child.  He  supports Manchester United and likes rugby league.

Email – mike.amesbury.mp@parliament.uk

Website‌ ‌–‌ ‌ ‌ www.mikeamesbury.org

Twitter‌ ‌–‌ ‌ ‌@MikeAmesburyMP

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The Putney constituency is found in the South of London.  The seat follows a large part of the District Line, dropping down from the southern bank of the Thames, to Southfields in the south, and Wandsworth town centre in the east.  Containing a large number of expensive houses, the constituency also contains students from Roehampton and Kingston universities.

The seat was formerly represented at Westminster by the Conservative Cabinet Minister David Mellor before 1997, and by the later Conservative Education Secretary, Justine Greening, between 2005 and 2019.  It was gained by Labour in 2019, having previously been held by the Party between 1997 and 2005.  Almost three quarters of the local electorate here were opposed to Brexit, one of the highest levels in the UK.

Anderson currently serves as part of the Shadow front bench team on the Cabinet Office.

Born in 1971 on the Island of Jersey, Fleur Anderson was educated at the University of York, and worked for Cafod, Christian Aid, and Water Aid being elected to Parliament.  She has been a councillor on Wandsworth Council, and was formerly Deputy Leader of the council’s Labour Group.

Anderson worked in Bosnia during the 1990s helping to rebuild villages affected by the war, and is Vice Chair of the All Party Group on Bosnia and Herzegovina

She supported Keir Starmer in the 2020 Labour leadership election.

In late 2021, Anderson led a campaign to prohibit the manufacture and sale of wet wipes containing plastic.

A selection of her political interests can be seen by the fact she is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Charities and Volunteering, and on the Prevention of Genocide, and the Vice Chair of the All Party Group on Fair Trade, and Housing and Planning.

Website – www.fleuranderson.co.uk

Email – fleur.anderson.mp@parliament.uk

Twitter – @PutneyFleur

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In March 2024, having previously lost the Conservative whip for controversial comments he made about Sadiq Khan, he joined Reform UK becoming the party’s first MP.

The Ashfield constituency is‌ ‌found‌ ‌to the west of the‌ ‌county‌ ‌of Nottinghamshire‌ ‌and‌ ‌covers‌ Sutton in Ashfield, Kirkby in Ashfield and Eastwood‌.  ‌It had previously been held by the Labour Party in every General Election since the mid 1950s.  This part of the Red Wall was captured by the Conservatives in 2019, with seven out of ten voters here backing Brexit.  It was once represented in Parliament by the Labour Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon.

Lee Anderson was appointed deputy Chair of the Conservative Party by Rishi Sunak in February 2023.

In this post, Anderson has acquired a reputation for making controversial comments. In August 2023, Anderson commented that any asylum seekers who disliked being housed on the Bibby Stockholm barge “should f*** off back to France”.

Week-in-Review: The Bibby Stockholm is a floating case study in political failure

In November 2023, after the UK supreme court ruled that the government’s flagship Rwanda deportation plan is unlawful, Anderson said the government should “ignore the law”.

“We should just get the planes in the air right now”, he said.

Does Rishi Sunak have a Rwanda ‘Plan B’? Because his backbenchers do

Born‌ ‌in 1967‌, Lee Anderson was‌ ‌educated‌ ‌at‌ Nottingham technical college. He previously worked‌ ‌as‌ a coal miner, and comes from a family of miners, many of whom were involved in the 1984 miners strike.

He then worked for the citizens advice bureau, and later served as office manager for the former Labour MP for Ashfield, Gloria De Piero.

Anderson joined the Conservative Party in 2018, in protest against the Labour party’s approach to Brexit and the party’s move to the left under Jeremy Corbyn. He formerly served as a Labour councillor in Ashfield, and later as a Conservative councillor in Mansfield.

In 2021 he announced that he would not be watching the England football team for the first time, as it took part in the European Football Championships.  He was critical of the players ‘taking the  knee’ before kick off and likened this to the players supporting a political movement.

Anderson has been vocal in calling for the return of the death penalty in the UK.

Married with two children, he is Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Brazil.

Email – lee.anderson.mp@parliament.uk

Website‌ ‌–‌ ‌  www.leeanderson.org.uk

Twitter‌ ‌–‌ ‌ @ashfield_lee

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Wolverhampton South West is generally regarded as the most affluent of the three Wolverhampton constituencies, although it does contain some deprived inner city districts in the St Peter’s and Graiseley areas of Wolverhampton.  The town’s football ground at Molineux is found here.

This seat was once represented in Parliament by Enoch Powell.  Having swung to Labour between 1997 and 2010, it was gained by the Conservatives between 2010 and 2015, fell back to Labour between 2015 and 2019, before supporting the Conservatives again.

In March 2023, he detailed how he planned to step down from parliament at the next election, suggesting that threats against his family had influenced his decision.  However in July 2023, he was selected for the different conservative seat of South Shropshire at the next election.

Anderson was appointed an Assistant Government Whip in July 2022.

Born‌ ‌in 1976, Stuart Anderson joined the army straight out of School and undertook operational tours in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Kosovo‌.‌  He was shot in the foot at the age of 17 during his early years in the army.  Having initially been told that he was unlikely to walk again unaided, Anderson recovered.

A keen runner, he later ran 79 miles in under 24 hours across every mountain in South Wales as part of a charity fund raising exercise.

Anderson completed eight years in the Royal Green Jackets (now the Rifles), before leaving the army at the age of 25.  At Westminster he is now a member of the Defence Select Committee and a member of the UK delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.  He is  Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Veterans, and on the Armed Forces Covenant.

After leaving the military, Anderson worked in close protection for high profile clients in the UK, Africa and the Middle East.  This was said to include a stint as a bodyguard for the former Prime Minister of Qatar.  He founded his own company called Anubis Associates, which provided close protection courses, ‌before‌ ‌being‌ ‌elected‌ ‌to‌ Parliament.‌ ‌

Anderson was previously elected to Herefordshire County Council.  He is married with five children, and an evangelical Christian.

Anderson has been a strong supporter of Boris Johnson throughout the ‘partygate’ affair and offered the PM his full support.

Website‌ ‌–‌ ‌ ‌http://www.stuartanderson.org.uk/

Twitter‌ ‌–‌ ‌ ‌ @Stuart4WolvesSW

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The West Yorkshire constituency of Pudsey is a suburban seat nestled between Leeds and Bradford, and contains the small towns of Pudsey, Horsforth, Yeaden, Farsley, and Guisely.  It was held by the Labour Party between 1997 and 2010, and is a crucial and tightly fought marginal constituency.  Home ownership in this part of West Yorkshire is well above the national average.

Stuart Andrew was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in September 2022.  He is also a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Department for International Trade

Andrew departed from his role as deputy chief whip in February 2022’s reshuffle, and was made a housing minister at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. He briefly resigned from that role in July 2022 claiming he no longer had confidence in the leadership of Boris Johnson. He had served in the whips office since 2019.

Prior to this, Stuarty Andrew was the Under Secretary of State for Defence (2018-19) and Under Secretary for Wales (2018).  He has also served as Vice Chair of the Conservative Party.

Stuart Andrew was born in 1971 when he spent the first few years of his life on the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales, living in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.  He later attended Ysgol David Hughes school in Menai Bridge on Anglesey .  Andrew grew up on a Council Estate and his father was a welder.

After leaving school at 18, Stuart Andrew started his career in the Charity and Voluntary sector working as a fundraiser for the British Heart Foundation, and then as a hospice fund raiser. Stuart was elected to Leeds City Council between 2003 and 2010.

Andrew is a patron of LGBTory.  He has previously spoken about being attacked and beaten unconscious because of his sexuality.

Andrew supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum.

Email: stuart.andrew.mp@parliament.uk

Personal Website: www.stuartandrew.com

Twitter: twitter.com/StuartAndrewMP

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/StuartAndrewPudsey

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Eastbourne is well known as one of the retirement capitals of the UK and a quarter of the population here are said to be of pensionable age.  Located on the East Sussex coast, the seat is focussed on the town of Eastbourne itself, alongside Polegate and just a handful of villages inland.  Formerly represented in Parliament by the Conservative Ian Gow, who was killed by an IRA bomb whilst an MP, Eastbourne has been a very tightly fought Liberal Democrat and Conservative marginal for much of the last thirty years.

Ansell, previously resigned as a government PPS over the government’s response to the free school meals campaign led by Marcus Rashford.

Born in 1971, Caroline Ansell is a former French teacher and school inspector.  She was educated at Holloway and Brighton Universities.

Prior to her election to Parliament, she was Councillor on Eastbourne Borough Council between 2012 and 2015.

She supported Brexit, and is an evangelical Christian.  She is married with three children.

Ansell is Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Hospitality and Tourism; Conception to the Age of 2.

Email – caroline.ansell.mp@parliament.uk

Personal Website: http://carolineansell.co.uk/

Twitter: twitter.com/Caroline_Ansell

Facebook Personal: https://www.facebook.com/caroline.ansell

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The constituency of Gower contains a section of the city of Swansea, and then spreads out into the Gower peninsula to include the seaside resort of the Mumbles, the coast around Worms Head, and the former mining towns of Pontardulais and Gorseinon. Traditionally a safe labour seat ever since the First World War, the Gower has become more marginal in recent years and the Conservatives held the seat briefly between 2015 and 2017, doing so by just 27 votes.

Tonia Antoniazzi was appointed to the Shadow Northern Ireland team in December 2021.

Born‌ ‌in 1971 to a Welsh mother and Italian father, Tonia studied French and Italian at Exeter University, before gaining a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from Cardiff University‌. She‌ was Head of Languages at Brungwyn Comprehensive school in Llanelli, before‌ ‌being‌ ‌elected‌ ‌to‌ Parliament.

She previously played Women’s international rugby for Wales and won 9 caps as a prop forward.  She has one son, and still enjoys watching rugby.

She supports the legalisation of cannabis in certain circumstances and is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Medical Cannabis under Prescription.

In 2019 she led a Westminster Hall debate in the House of Commons expressing concern about the safety of 5G masts.

Tonia Antoniazzi is also Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Cancer. She is Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Cameroon, Italy, Anti Semitism, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Beer, Dark Skies, Equitable Life Policy Holders, Fair Business Banking, Frozen British Pensions, HIV and Aids, Homelessness, Modern Languages, Netball, Parkinson’s, Rowing, Roadside Recovery, Single Parent Families, Tennis, Wales in the World, and Wrestling.

Email: tonia.antoniazzi.mp@parliament.uk

Website‌ ‌–‌ ‌ ‌https://www.toniaantoniazzi.co.uk/

Twitter‌ ‌–‌ ‌ ‌ @ToniaAntoniazzi

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The Leicestershire constituency of Charnwood sits between Nottingham to the north and Leicester immediately to the south.  It is mainly a rural seat and contains the communities of Birsall, Syston, Thurmaston, Glenfield, and Groby.  It is a safe Conservative seat which was formerly represented by the Conservative Cabinet Minister, Stephen Dorrell.

• Edward Argar is currently the Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice.  He was demoted into the role upon Rishi Sunak becoming prime minister, having served in the cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury for a short period in mid October 2022.
• Argar had previously served as Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office between September and October 2022.  Mr Argar backed Liz Truss in the 2022 Conservative party leadership election.
• Mr Argar served as Minister of State at the Department of Health between 2019 and 2022, doing so through the 2020/21 coronavirus crisis.  He resigned in July 2022 in protest at Boris Johnson continuing to remain as prime minister.

He was previously Under Secretary of State at the Department of Justice between 2018 and 2019.

Argar was born in 1977 and grew up in Kent, his parents were both teachers.   Educated at Oxford University, he later became press secretary to the Shadow Foreign Secretary Lord Ancram. He later worked in public affairs for Serco before being elected to Parliament.

He served on Westminster City Council between 2006 and 2015 and became a cabinet member on the council in 2008.

Argar supported Sajid Javid and the Boris Johnson in the 2019 Conservative leadership election, and backed Remain in the 2016 EU referendum.  He enjoys cricket.

Email: edward.argar.mp@parliament.uk

Personal Website: http://www.edwardargar.org.uk

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Edward-Argar/

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He serves as the shadow paymaster general, having in effect been demoted from the post of shadow secretary of state for work and pensions in Keir Starmer’s September 2023 reshuffle.

He has been called the “shadow minister for the Today programme”, a phrase he has embraced, reflecting his role as an “attack dog” in Keir Starmer’s political operation.

Ashworth’s constituency of Leicester South contains the city centre in Leicester, and is the most affluent of the three Leicester seats containing the suburbs of Stoneygate and Aylsestone, as well as some more deprived communities in the inner city areas of Saffron and Eyres Monsell.

The seat is one of the most ethnically diverse in the UK, with the Muslim population said to number over 30,000.  It is also home to both Leicester Universities, with the large student vote, helping to further turn this into a very safe Labour seat in recent years.

Ashworth was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions during a November 2021 Shadow Cabinet reshuffle.  He had was previously the long standing Shadow Secretary of State between 2016 and 2021.

Ashworth famously was seen to cast doubt on the Labour Party’s ability to win the 2019 General Election, just two days prior to polling day.

He supported Lisa Nandy for the Labour leadership in 2020, backed Jeremy Corbyn in 2016, and supported Yvette Cooper in the 2015 contest.

Prior to entering Parliament, Ashworth served as a Labour Party Research Officer, and then as a Special Advisor to Gordon Brown.   Having worked in politics for most of his adult life, Ashworth can be considered as one of Westminster’s professional politicians.

Born in 1978, Ashworth is married with two daughters.  He was educated at Durham University. He describes himself as a ‘book-worm’ who likes running.

Email:  jon.ashworth.mp@parliament.uk

Personal Website: http://www.jonashworth.org

Twitter: @jonashworth

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JonAshworthMP

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