Thomas Anthony Gordon is the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough in the UK House of Commons, elected at the 2024 general election.[1]
Tom Gordon | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Andrew Jones |
| Majority | 8,238 (15.9%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Anthony Gordon 26 February 1994 Knottingley, West Yorkshire, England |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Alma mater | Newcastle University |
| Website | www |
Early life and career
editGordon was born and raised in Knottingley.[2] He received a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry at Newcastle University. He went on to study for a Master's degree in Public Health (MPH) also at Newcastle, which he completed part time due to his mother's battle with breast cancer, which he says inspired his entry into politics.[3] His mother, Adele Hayes, is a Councillor for Knottingley on Wakefield Council.
Before entering Parliament he worked in the scientific recruitment and health services research sector [3] as well as policy roles in the charitable sector, including for the Carers Trust, and as a researcher for an MEP.
Political career
editWhile at University he was elected as a Councillor for Manor Park on Newcastle City Council in 2018, serving for one year. Afterwards, he returned to Knottingley after taking a job at the University of York and stood for election in Knottingley on Wakefield Council, achieving a 54.2% swing from Labour and becoming the first Liberal Democrat elected to Wakefield Council since 2011.[4] Subsequently, he became one of Yorkshire's youngest council group leaders.
He was chosen as the Liberal Democrats' candidate for the 2021 Batley and Spen by-election on the 3rd June, 2021 after initial candidate Jo Conchie withdrew due to health reasons.[5] He had previously stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford at the 2019 United Kingdom general election.[6] Still standing on the platform of the Liberal Democrats, Gordon was chosen as the party's candidate for the parliamentary constituency of Harrogate and Knaresborough,[7][8] and which he won with 23,976 (46.1%) votes.[9]
Personal life
editGordon is gay.[10] He is also a keen runner and badminton player. He regularly participates in Parkrun[2][11] and has completed over a dozen long distance charity runs, including the Paris and Berlin marathons, raising money for a range of charities including Cancer Research and Alzheimer’s Society.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Harrogate and Knaresborough - General election results 2024". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ a b "5 questions to the Liberal Democrat election candidate for Harrogate & Knaresborough". Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b "'My mum's cancer struggle got me into politics'". Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Disappointing night for Labour in Wakefield at local elections". 3 May 2019. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Batley and Spen by-election: Lib Dems choose new candidate". 3 June 2021. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "Wakefield councillor becomes new Lib Dem candidate for Batley and Spen by-election". www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "Wakefield Council Lib Dem leader Tom Gordon selected as Westminster candidate". Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "NEWS STORY : Tom Gordon Selected as Liberal Democrat Candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough – UKPOL.CO.UK". 6 February 2023. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "Harrogate and Knaresborough - General election results 2024". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ @tomgordonLD (17 March 2020). "Time for another overshare: So stress triggers my IBS. Yes, I a gay man have IBS - it is just great. The lack of toilet roll is stressing me out... See where I'm going with this? Please do not panic buy" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 9 July 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ @tomgordonLD (6 July 2024). "Park run this morning 🏃♂️Genuinely overwhelmed with how lovely everyone was saying congrats & shaking my hand 👏 Happy to prove a few people wrong, who said they expected me to never show up again now that I was elected 🤣Time to show we can do politics differently 🔶" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Our new MPs David Chadwick, Manuela Perteghella, Tom Gordon". Retrieved 10 July 2024.
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