Thomas Anthony Gordon is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough since 2024.
Tom Gordon | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| 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 Knottingley, West Yorkshire, England |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Alma mater | Newcastle University |
| Website | www |
Early life and career
editThomas Anthony Gordon[1] was born and raised in Knottingley.[2] He received a Bachelor of Science degree 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, Gordon 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 a member of the European Parliament.
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-per-cent 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, after the 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] Gordon was chosen as the party's candidate for the constituency of Harrogate and Knaresborough,[7] which he won with 23,976 votes (46.1 per cent) at the 2024 general election.[8]
Personal life
editGordon is gay.[9] He is also a keen badminton player and runner, regularly participating in Parkrun events,[2][10] and had completed more than a dozen long distance charity runs as of 2024[update], including marathons in Paris and Berlin, to raise money for charity.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Election results for Batley and Spen, 1 July 2021". Kirklees Council. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ a b "5 questions to the Liberal Democrat election candidate for Harrogate & Knaresborough". Harrogate Informer. 30 June 2024. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b Laver, Adam (6 July 2024). "'My mum's cancer struggle got me into politics'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Spereall, David (3 May 2019). "Disappointing night for Labour in Wakefield at local elections". Yorkshire Evening Post. 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.
- ^ Spereall, David (3 June 2021). "Wakefield councillor becomes new Lib Dem candidate for Batley and Spen by-election". Wakefield Express. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ Gardner, Tony (6 February 2023). "Wakefield Council Lib Dem leader Tom Gordon selected as Westminster candidate". The Yorkshire Post. Archived from the original on 8 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.
- ^ Gordon, Tom [@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.
- ^ Gordon, Tom [@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". Liberal Democrat Voice. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
External links
edit- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
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