Parliament is filled with new faces, but none are more animated than the members from generation Z who have taken their seats this week. This marks an important milestone for these individuals born between 1995 and 2012, now only slightly older than 30 years old. Their numbers have increased significantly since before the last election to a total of 10. All but one were elected as Labour members, including three who are among the first in their generation to be elected from any political party.
This group began their political careers at an early age; many started out as dedicated student activists and some take pride in being Swifties – followers of Labour leader Keir Starmer. Many still maintain social media profiles highlighting achievements from school, including extended project qualifications and Duke of Edinburgh awards.
Sam Carling, 22 years old, born in the north-east region of England, has just joined as an MP after defeating the veteran Conservative member Shailesh Vara by a margin of 39 votes. He was raised in County Durham and attended private school before moving to Cambridge for his university education where he engaged deeply in student politics.
Josh Dean, aged 24, is another newcomer who has made significant strides in the political arena. Born in Hertfordshire, Dean won a Tory majority of nearly 20,000 votes in his constituency by overturning it to become an MP. He attended grammar school and is currently completing his degree in politics and international relations at the University of Westminster.
Euan Stainbank, also aged 24, made headlines as he became Labour's candidate for Scotland's Falkirk constituency. His victory tripled the Tory majority, making him an influential voice within the new generation in politics.
Luke Charters, who is just a year younger than Dean at age 28, has also made his mark by winning York Outer from the Conservatives after two previous attempts. His background includes studying economics and politics at Oxford before working at prominent financial institutions such as the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority.
These new members of Parliament bring fresh perspectives to the political landscape, representing a generation that is increasingly engaged in shaping policies for their future.
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