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Tom Gordon (British politician)

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Tom Gordon
MP
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for Harrogate and Knaresborough
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded byAndrew Jones
Majority8,238 (15.9%)
Personal details
BornThomas Anthony Gordon
Knottingley, West Yorkshire, England
PartyLiberal Democrats
RelativesCllr Adele Hayes (mother)
Newcastle University
Websitewww.tomgordon.org.uk

Thomas Anthony Gordon is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough since 2024.

Early life and career

Thomas Anthony Gordon[1] was born and raised in Knottingley.[2] He received a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in biochemistry at Newcastle University. He went on to study for a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree 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

While 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]

He was chosen as the Liberal Democrats' candidate for the 2021 Batley and Spen by-election, after the initial candidate Jo Conchie withdrew for health reasons.[5] He had previously stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford at the 2019 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]

Following his election he joined the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee.[9] Gordon is also a member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights. [10]

Gordon supported Kim Leadbeater's bill introducing assisted dying into law and served on the committee examining the legislation.[11] On 6 February 2025, Gordon proposed an amendment to the bill to increase the franchise for assisted dying such that people with neurological illnesses can request assisted dying services with a 12 month prognosis instead of the 6 month prognosis proposed in the original bill.[12]

Personal life

Gordon is gay.[13][14] He is also a keen badminton player and runner, regularly participating in Parkrun events,[2][15] and had completed more than a dozen long distance charity runs as of 2024, including marathons in Paris and Berlin.[16]

References

  1. "Election results for Batley and Spen, 1 July 2021". Kirklees Council. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  2. "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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. "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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. "Harrogate and Knaresborough – General election results 2024". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  9. "Science, Innovation and Technology Committee Membership". UK Parliament Website. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  10. "Joint Committee on Human Rights Membership". Tom Gordon MP. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  11. "Who are the MPs who will scrutinise the assisted dying bill?". BBC. 11 December 2024.
  12. "Amendment to allow assisted dying at 12 months left to live for those with neurodegenerative illnesses". My Death, My Decision. 6 February 2025.
  13. Tom Gordon MP (23 June 2025). "Pride Month". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 769. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 922.
  14. James, Alastair (5 July 2024). "These are all the out LGBTQ+ MPs in Parliament". Attitude. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  15. 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 X (formerly Twitter).
  16. "Our new MPs: David Chadwick, Manuela Perteghella, Tom Gordon". Liberal Democrat Voice. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.