Sam Carling
Sam Carling | |
---|---|
File:Methode times prod web bin 30a5619d-da4b-4cf5-ad50-49a4022509b2.jpg | |
Member of Parliament for North West Cambridgeshire | |
Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
Preceded by | Shailesh Vara |
Majority | 39 (0.09%) |
Member of Cambridge City Council for West Chesterton | |
Assumed office 5 May 2022 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 2002 (age 21–22) County Durham, England |
Political party | Labour |
Alma mater | Christ's College, Cambridge |
Website | samcarling |
Sam Carling (born 2002) is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Cambridgeshire since 2024,[1] becoming the youngest MP and the first MP to be born in the 21st century.[2]
Carling has represented West Chesterton on Cambridge City Council since 2022.[3]
Early life and education
Carling was born in 2002,[1] and is from Bishop Auckland. After completing his GCSEs at Wolsingham School, he attended sixth form at Barnard Castle School,[4] an independent boarding school in County Durham, achieving 5 A* A-Level grades and an EPQ.[5] He then went to Christ's College, Cambridge,[3] where he read natural sciences graduating with first-class honours in 2023.[6] He then continued at Christ's as a postgraduate student studying for a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree.[7][3]
Political career
Carling is a member of the Labour Party, and has served as co-chairman of the Cambridge University Labour Club.[3] In 2022, while still an undergraduate, he was elected to represent West Chesterton on Cambridge City Council[3][8] and was re-elected in May 2024.[7] He held the office of Executive Councillor for Open Spaces and City Services,[9] and was a member of the Skills Committee of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.[8]
In the July 2024 United Kingdom general election, Carling successfully contested the North West Cambridgeshire constituency for the Labour Party. Campaigning for better public services,[10] he defeated incumbent Conservative MP Shailesh Vara and was returned to parliament by a margin of 39 votes, verified by a recount.[11][12] The seat had been held by the Conservatives since its creation in 1997.[13] Elected aged 22, Carling is the youngest Member to enter the Commons in 2024, the new Baby of the House,[1][13] and the first elected parliamentarian born in the 21st century.[2]
References
- ^ a b c Parry, Louise; Hulland, Louise (6 July 2024). "Meet the new youngest MP – born in 2002". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b Boyle, Cash (6 July 2024). "Labour's Sam Carling, 22, is first MP to be born in 21st century". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Vall, Wilf (5 July 2024). "Cambridge postgrad wins seat in Parliament". Varsity. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Science student's work on nanotechnology used in cancer research wins top award". The Northern Echo. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ Nicholls, Stuart (12 January 2021). "National Award Success for Sam! - Barnard Castle School". Barnard Castle School. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ Carling, Sam. "Sam Carling – LinkedIn Profile". LinkedIn. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ a b Vall, Wilf (4 May 2024). "Cambridge postgrad re-elected as City councillor". Varsity. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b Senior, Matthew (5 July 2024). "Meet Sam Carling the North West Cambridgeshire MP who is only 22". Cambridgeshire Live. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Councillor Sam Carling". Cambridge City Council. Archived from the original on 4 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Herring, Francesca (28 May 2024). "General Election: Labour North West Cambs candidate Cllr Sam Carling". The Hunts Post. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Burnett, Tom; Findlay, Cait (5 July 2024). "New Labour MP for North West Cambridgeshire elected in 'political earthquake'". Cambridgeshire Live. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Orla Moore (5 July 2024). "Labour wins Peterborough and NW Cambridgeshire". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b Jones, Ben (5 July 2024). "North West Cambridgeshire elects Britain's youngest MP on night of high drama". Peterborough Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024.