Simon Robert Lightwood (born 15 December 1980)[2] is a British Labour Party politician serving as Member of Parliament (MP) for Wakefield since the 2022 by-election.[3][4] He has been Shadow Minister for Local Transport since 2022.[5]
Simon Lightwood | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2022 | |
| Shadow Minister for Local Transport[a] | |
| Assumed office 27 September 2022 | |
| Leader | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Sam Tarry |
| Member of Parliament for Wakefield | |
| Assumed office 23 June 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Imran Ahmad Khan |
| Majority | 4,925 (17.9%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Simon Robert Lightwood 15 December 1980 South Shields, England |
| Political party | Labour and Co-operative[1] |
| Alma mater | Bretton Hall College |
| Website | www.simonlightwood.org.uk |
Early life and education
Lightwood was born in 1980 and grew up in South Shields.[6] After his family home was repossessed when he was aged 13, he was forced to live with his grandmother, away from his parents.[7] Lightwood has a degree in theatre acting from Bretton Hall College and bought his first house in Wakefield.[6]
Early career
Lightwood was a case worker for Mary Creagh, MP for the Wakefield constituency from 2005 to 2019. He later worked for the National Health Service,[7][8] and has served on the Labour Party's National Policy Forum as a Yorkshire representative.[9] At the time of running for parliament, he was head of communications for Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.[10]
Parliamentary career
On 3 May 2022, Imran Ahmad Khan resigned as MP for Wakefield after being convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage boy, thus forcing a by-election. After Lightwood has been included on the shortlist for the Labour candidate, entire CLP executive committee (barring one externally appointed individual) walked out of the meeting. At final selection meeting on May 15th, there was a further substantial walkout of members, after which Lightwood was chosen as the official candidate.[11] [12][13][14][15] At the by-election held on 23 June 2022, Lightwood was elected as MP with a 4,925 majority.[16]
At the 2022 Labour Party Conference, Lightwood was appointed Shadow Minister for Local Transport.[citation needed].
Personal life
Lightwood lives in Ossett within the Wakefield constituency with his husband, having pledged to move from his previous home in Calderdale to Wakefield following his election.[17][10]