Politics
These are the new Jewish MPs elected to parliament
Just one Jewish Conservative candidate was returned as an MP
July 5, 2024 12:01
Just one Jewish Conservative candidate was returned as an MP
July 5, 2024 12:01Jewish MPs have been elected across Britain as Labour swept to power amid a comprehensive collapse of the Conservative vote.
In London, Labour candidates Sarah Sackman, Ben Coleman, Georgia Gould, and David Pinto-Duschinsky all won office in seats across the capital.
In the northern England seat of Makerfield, Starmer backer Josh Simons was elected to represent one of Labour’s safest seats.
He told the JC: “I’m honoured to be elected as MP for Makerfield. The British people have voted for change.
"My job now is to deliver for working people in Makerfield. It will be an honour to serve.”
NHS surgeon Peter Prinsley won Bury St Edmonds – a seat never previously taken by the Labour Party.
Writing on X, he said, “Hope is a brilliant thing.”
The member of the Board of Deputies added: “Thank you to the residents of Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket for your trust. Thank you to every volunteer who became part of this movement. Let the hard work begin!”
In Warrington North, Jewish convert Charlotte Nichols was reelected, while in West Wirral Matthew Patrick took office, both for Labour.
He told the JC: “I’m delighted to be elected to represent the people of Wirral West in an amazing night for the Labour Party - this shows just how far we have come since 2019.
“People have demanded change for our country and we will work tirelessly to deliver it.”
Ed Miliband, former Labour leader and Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, was reelected with an increased majority.
The most Jewish constituency in the country, Finchley and Golders Green, was won by Sarah Sackman.
The barrister, who is a member of New North London Synagogue, is the first Labour candidate to win the seat since 2010.
She recieved 44.3 per cent of the vote.
Chelsea and Fulham was won by Labour for the first time ever by Jewish candidate Ben Coleman.
He took just 152 votes more than the Conservative incumbent Greg Hands, who has been an MP for almost two decades.
Coleman told the Evening Standard: “I feel very proud to be Chelsea and Fulham’s first Labour MP.
“The whole country needs change, we need to get the NHS back on its feet, our schools need more teachers, we need to get police back on the street.”
In Queen’s Park & Maida Vale, Labour candidate Georgia Gould won almost 15,000 more votes than her nearest opponent.
In the North, incumbent Alex Sobel won his seat of Leeds Central and Headingley with a reduced majority for the Labour Party. In Leeds North East, Fabian Hamilton was also reelected.
Damien Egan, who is a Jewish convert and has an Israeli husband, took Bristol North East for Labour after first winning the seat in a by-election.
David Pinto-Duschinsky meanwhile won Hendon by just 15 votes. In a post on Twitter/X, he said: “It is an enormous honour to be elected MP for Hendon.
“You voted for change and for a better future for our community and our country.
“I’ll work hard every day to repay your trust and deliver for you.”
The only Jewish Conservative elected to parliament was Sir Julian Lewis, who won in the Hampshire constituency of New Forest East.
The former defence select committee chair has represented the seat since 1997.
Among the Jewish MPs who lost their seats was Grant Shapps, defence secretary. In a closely fought race, Shapps lost his seat in Welwyn Hatfield to Labour candidate Andrew Lewin by just under 3000 votes.
Sir Michael Fabricant also lost his seat in Lichfield to Labour’s Dave Robertson by only 800 votes.
Sir Michael Ellis, former Attorney General for England and Wales, stepped down before the election. Robert Halfon, former political director of the Conservative Friends of Israel, also stood down.
Andrew Percy, who converted to Judaism in 2017, and was the Vice chair of the Conservative Friends of Israel, stood down in 2024.