Joseph Edward Powell[1] is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Kensington and Bayswater since 2024.[2] He was the deputy CEO of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) for 11 years.[3]
Joe Powell | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament for Kensington and Bayswater | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Felicity Buchan |
| Majority | 2,903 (6.9%) |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge, Makerere University |
Early life
editPowell grew up in Queen's Park, London[4] and attended University College School in London. In 2007 he graduated from the University of Cambridge with a bachelor's degree in geography. He then went on to complete a two-year masters degree at the Makerere University in Uganda, receiving a masters degree in international relations and diplomatic studies in 2009.[5]
Career outside parliament
editPowell was the deputy chief executive officer of the Open Government Partnership, which was founded by former U.S. president Barack Obama, for 11 years.[4][3][6]
In 2022, Powell was a co-founder of Kensington Against Dirty Money, an activist association.[7][4] He was involved in a publicity stunt loading a washing machine with cash.[4] He has regularly called for increased transparency about who owns and controls property in the United Kingdom, highlighting issues such as the fact that 6,000 properties in the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea are registered to anonymous companies.[8]
Parliamentary career
editOn 25 November 2022, Powell was selected by Kensington Labour to be the parliamentary candidate in the 2024 general election.[6] Powell pledged to improve St. Mary's, Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospitals; increase affordable housing and improve landlord regulations; enhance neighbourhood policing; address the cost of living crisis and climate change; seek justice for Grenfell; and tackle dirty money in the community.[4][9][10]
Personal life
editPowell and his wife Elspeth became parents of twins, a boy and a girl, at the start of his campaign in late May 2024.[11][4]
References
edit- ^ "Members Sworn". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 752. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 10 July 2024.
- ^ Davies, Ellie (5 July 2024). "Kensington and Bayswater swings red as Labour retake wealthiest London borough". SWLondoner. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Saying Goodbye to OGP". Open Government Partnership. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Frank-Keyes, Jessica (27 June 2024). "Dirty money 'won't create growth', Labour candidate warns". City A.M. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Powell, Joe (13 December 2007). "International development". The Guardian.
- ^ a b "Joe Powell". Open Government Partnership. 3 July 2024.
- ^ Agini, Samuel; Parker, George; Cameron-Chileshe, Jasmine (13 May 2022). "Charity campaigners criticise lack of transparency over Chelsea FC donation". FT.com. ProQuest 2675301829. Retrieved 5 July 2024 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Houlder, Vanessa (9 March 2022). "The Lex Newsletter: UK must expose oligarch owners of country's priciest properties". FT.com. ProQuest 2648006003. Retrieved 5 July 2024 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Joe Powell". Open Government Partnership. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "Joe Powell for Kensington and Bayswater in the UK Parliamentary general election". whocanivotefor.co.uk.
- ^ "Joe Powell, Labour's candidate". Evening Standard. 3 June 2024. ProQuest 3063753709. Retrieved 5 July 2024 – via ProQuest.
External links
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