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Luke Akehurst
MP
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for North Durham
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded byKevan Jones
Majority5,873 (14.1%)
Member of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 2020
In office
2010–2012
Member of Hackney London Borough Council for Chatham
In office
2 May 2002 – 22 May 2014
Personal details
Born (1972-03-02) 2 March 1972 (age 52)
Political partyLabour
Other political
affiliations		Labour First
Alma materUniversity of Bristol (BSc)
OccupationFormer director of We Believe in Israel

Luke Akehurst (born 2 March 1972) is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Durham since 2024.[1]

He is also a Labour Party official, and a former councillor. Since 2020, Akehurst has been a member of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party (NEC), having previously been on the NEC from 2010 until 2012.

Education and early career

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Akehurst was privately educated at Kent College, Canterbury. He received a Bachelor of Science in Politics from the University of Bristol in 1993.[2][3]

Akehurst worked in the BBC Political Research Unit from 1996 to 2000,[3] and at the communications firm Weber Shandwick from 2000 to 2011.[4]

Political career

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Early activity (1993–2005)

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Akehurst joined the Labour Party at 16 years old.[4] He contested Cabot ward at the 1993 Avon County Council election, in which he came second to the Liberal Democrat candidate.[5] He also unsuccessfully contested the 1995 Bristol City Council election in Stoke Bishop ward.[6] Akehurst was National Secretary of Labour Students from 1995 to 1996.[7]

Between 1996 and 1998, he was an officer for Anita Pollack, then a Member of the European Parliament, and a Labour organiser in Holborn and St Pancras. Akehurst was a political assistant to the Labour Group on Hackney London Borough Council from 1998 to 2000.[3]

At the 2001 general election, Akehurst ran as the Labour candidate in Aldershot, coming third place behind incumbent Conservative MP Gerald Howarth and the Liberal Democrat Adrian Collett, in what has traditionally been a safe seat for the Conservatives.[4][8]

In the 2002 Hackney borough council election, Akehurst was successfully elected to the council, representing Chatham ward. He was reelected to the council in 2006 and again in 2010, before standing down at the 2014 Hackney Council election.[4][9]

At the 2005 general election, he ran in Castle Point. In the run up to the election, Akehurst criticised an anti-immigration advert that sitting Tory MP Bob Spink had published as "appalling comments that whip up racial tension" and "reminiscent of the worse utterances of Enoch Powell."[10] Akehurst came second to Spink.[4][11]

Activism and opposition to the left (2006–2020)

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In 2006, Akehurst became Secretary of Labour First, which represents moderates and "the old Labour Right".[12][13] Under his leadership, the organisation has been committed to "Clause One socialism" of prioritising getting Labour candidates elected to parliament above policy,[14] as well as advocating for a party "safe from the organised hard left".[4]

In 2010, Akehurst was elected to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party.[15] He was not re-elected in 2012.[16][17]

Since August 2011, Akehurst has been employed as director of the pro-Israel group We Believe in Israel.[18][19] Akehurst has spoken positively of Zionism, describing it in 2023 as "a beautiful ideology of anti-racism".[20]

Following his selection as Labour's parliamentary candidate for North Durham in 2024, he has said he was "handing in his notice" and will no longer be a member of the group.[21] He has described Israel's actions in the 2023–2024 Gaza war as proportionate. Momentum said Akehurst's views on Israel's actions were "a slap in the face to voters across the country already outraged by Labour's failings on Gaza".[22]

During the 2015 Labour leadership election, Labour First urged Progress to join in supporting "ABC" (Anyone But Corbyn).[13][23] Akehurst supported Yvette Cooper's campaign.[13]

In 2016, Akehurst attempted to run for a position on the NEC within the Constituency Labour Party (CLP) section, under the Corbyn-sceptic joint slate of candidates between Labour First and Progress, but the slate failed to achieve any candidates, all being beaten by the Momentum backed CLPD slate.[24]

Akehurst spoke out against Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the party numerous times.[25] In a 2019 speech at a Jewish Labour Movement rally, Akehurst said he had nearly left the party over anti-Semitism, and hoped that Corbyn could be removed as leader.[26][27] On social media, he described the United Nations as antisemitic and said that Jews were "politically black". He has been criticised for what The Guardian described as "his efforts to wrest control of Labour's national executive committee, conference agenda and constituency Labour parties from the Corbynite left".[22] Akehurst has been referred to as subsequent Labour leader Keir Starmer's "leading cheerleader on the NEC" by Ronan Burtenshaw, editor of Tribune. Akehurst said of Starmer's attitude: "Voters like it when Labour leaders put the hard left back in their box".[28]

In 2018, Akehurst attempted to run for a position the NEC within the CLP section, again under the Labour First–Progress slate.[29] Akehurst achieved 49 CLP nominations,[30] but the slate failed to achieve any candidates, beaten by the pro-Corbyn joint Momentum–CLPD–CLGA slate.[29]

In 2019, Akehurst wrote on Twitter to justify the British Empire's actions during the Malayan Emergency. In response Graham Stevenson, a central council member of Liberation (formerly the "Movement for Colonial Freedom"), wrote in the Morning Star, describing Akehurst's opinions on the Malayan Emergency as "ahistorical charges, mostly myths usually perpetuated by racists, empire loyalists and anti-communist fanatics".[31]

Return to National Executive Committee (2020–present)

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As secretary of Labour First, he was involved in 2020 talks with Progress, which established the pro-Starmer umbrella group Labour to Win.[32]

In 2020, Akehurst was reelected in the first round to the Labour Party's NEC under the Labour to Win slate of nominees.[33] His own Oxford East CLP did not nominate him,[34][better source needed] but he received more votes than any other candidate.[35][36] In 2022, he was reelected again and once more topped the polls.[37]

In the 2021 Oxford City Council elections, Akehurst ran for the St. Mary's ward, and came in third place.[38]

In May 2024, it was announced that Akehurst was to stand in the 2024 general election as the Labour Party candidate for North Durham.[39][40] The nomination was criticised by left-wingers and pro-Palestine activists due to Akehurst's previous accusations against Palestinian civilians in the Israel-Hamas war of being paid crisis actors, and of the United Nations of being antisemitic.[41][42] This led to a crowdfunding campaign opposing his nomination.[43] Byline Times editor Adam Bienkov noted that Akehurst had recently deleted hundreds of tweets around the time his nomination was announced.[4][44]

In June 2024, Labour councillor and Momentum activist Martin Abrams, who is Jewish, submitted a complaint of antisemitism against Akehurst to the party. In a speech in 2020, Akehurst had said that Marxist Jews "have abandoned very much of their Jewish identity, they don't go to shul [synagogue] at all. You know, it's become a purely cultural thing around the occasional bowl of chicken soup or whatever." Abrams said "I believe Luke Akehurst's comments are deeply antisemitic by trying to define anti-Zionist Jews out of Judaism. The Good Jew, Bad Jew trope."[45]

Parliamentary career

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Akehurst was elected as the Member of Parliament for North Durham in July 2024, holding the seat for Labour.[1]

In November 2024, Akehurst voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which proposes to legalise assisted suicide.[46]

Personal life

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Akehurst is married to Oxford councillor Linda Smith.[47] He has two children. In 2009 he developed POEMS syndrome, which left him hospitalised for five months and using a wheelchair for nine months afterwards. He now uses orthotics and a walking stick.[48]

References

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  1. ^ a b "North Durham - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  2. ^ Wachmann, Doreen (2014). "Why non-Jewish Luke's family has always given support to Israel". Jewish Telegraph. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Candidate: Luke Akehurst". BBC News: Vote 2001. 2001. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Elliards, Xander (30 May 2024). "Who is Luke Akehurst – the controversial Israel lobbyist and Labour candidate". The National. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Avon County Council Election Results 1973-1993" (PDF). The Elections Centre (Plymouth University). Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  6. ^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Bristol City Council Election Results 1995-2011" (PDF). p. 5. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  7. ^ Akehurst, Luke (18 September 2019). "Why the hard left has abolished Labour Students". The Spectator. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Prominent Labour councillor Luke Akehurst to stand down at local elections". Hackney Citizen. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  10. ^ Nicholas Watt. "Tory candidate under fire for 'send them back' asylum ad". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  12. ^ Gilbert, Jeremy (14 April 2018). "Antisemitism, cosmopolitanism and the politics of Labour's 'old' and 'new' right-wings". OpenDemocracy. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  13. ^ a b c Anoosh, Chakelian (23 October 2015). "Labour's warring factions: who do they include and what are they fighting over?". The New Statesman. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Labour First". Labourfirst.org. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  15. ^ Ferguson, Mark (26 September 2010). "NEC Results". LabourList. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  16. ^ LabourList (20 June 2012). "Labour's NEC - the results". LabourList. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  17. ^ Ferguson, Mark (20 June 2012). "What the NEC election results mean". LabourList. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Our Team". www.webelieveinisrael.org.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  19. ^ Harpin, Lee (8 October 2023). "Luciana Berger makes emotional return to Labour Party conference". Jewish News. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  20. ^ Akehurst, Luke [@lukeakehurst] (14 September 2023). "I'm very sorry for you if you cannot see Zionism as a beautiful ideology of anti-racism and the national liberation and cultural flourishing of the Jewish people. I have no idea why you or anyone else harbours such intense negativity towards such a profoundly decent movement" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Munro, Craig (30 May 2024). "Labour candidate defends describing Jewish people as 'politically Black'". Metro.
  22. ^ a b Mason, Rowena (31 May 2024). "Luke Akehurst: who is Labour activist turned controversial candidate?". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  23. ^ "Anyone but Jeremy Corbyn?". Daily Politics. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  24. ^ Pope, Conor (8 August 2016). "Clean sweep for pro-Corbyn left wingers in NEC elections". LabourList. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  25. ^ Boscia, Stefan (30 May 2024). "UK Labour's fight with the left risks spinning out of control". Politico. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  26. ^ Whittell, Giles (31 May 2024). "UK election 2024: Who is...Luke Akehurst?". Tortoise. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  27. ^ Harpin, Lee (23 September 2019). "Mayor of London Sadiq Khan voices concern about antisemitism at packed Jewish Labour Movement rally". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  28. ^ Burtenshaw, Ronan (2 July 2021). "Batley and Spen Is Not a Victory for Keir Starmer". Tribune. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  29. ^ a b Butterworth, Benjamin (4 September 2018). "Labour NEC results in full: Jeremy Corbyn supporters win all nine places with Peter Willsman re-elected". i. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  30. ^ Rodgers, Sienna (24 May 2018). "Labour's NEC race: The full list of CLP nominations so far". LabourList. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  31. ^ Stevenson, Graham (30 July 2019). "'Left' excuses for murder in Malaya". morningstaronline.co.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  32. ^ Rodgers, Sienna (5 April 2024). "Progress and Labour First launch 'Labour to Win' umbrella organisation". LabourList. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  33. ^ Rodgers, Sienna (1 July 2020). "Labour to Win unveils "pluralistic" set of NEC candidate recommendations". Labour List. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  34. ^ "Labour First's Akehurst rejected for NEC by his own CLP – and another one in Oxford for good measure". The Skwawkbox. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  35. ^ Watson, Iain (13 November 2020). "No faction gets a clean sweep in Labour NEC poll". BBC News. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  36. ^ Akehurst, Luke (19 July 2022). "Luke Akehurst: Why I'm standing to represent local parties on Labour's NEC". LabourList. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  37. ^ Chappell, Elliot (1 September 2022). "Results released in NEC, national policy forum, youth and student wing elections". LabourList. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  38. ^ Council, Oxford City. "Election of CITY COUNCILLORS for the Wards of Oxford City Council Summary of Results". p. 9. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  39. ^ "Labour announces candidate for North Durham constituency". The Northern Echo. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  40. ^ Labour North [@LabourNorth] (29 May 2024). "Congratulations to @lukeakehurst, Labour's candidate for North Durham!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  41. ^ Elliards, Xander (30 May 2024). "Luke Akehurst: Labour pick 'extremist' Israel lobbyist for safe seat". The National. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  42. ^ "UK: Controversial pro-Israel activist Luke Akehurst selected for Labour safe seat". Middle East Eye. 30 May 2024. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  43. ^ Mortimer, Josiah (3 June 2024). "Another Left-Wing Labour Hopeful 'Blocked' as Senior Union Figure Speaks Out his Selections Controversy". Byline Times. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  44. ^ Bienkov, Adam [@@AdamBienkov] (30 May 2024). "Given the deselection of Labour candidate Faiza Shaheen, on the basis of old liked tweets, it's worth noting that the party's newly-appointed candidate for Durham North (and NEC member) Luke Akehurst, appears to have deleted a *lot* of his own tweets in the past week" (Tweet). Retrieved 31 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  45. ^ Mortimer, Josiah (7 June 2024). "Labour Candidate and Starmer-Ally Faces Antisemitism Complaint Over Controversial Remarks on Marxist Jews". Byline Times. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  46. ^ "Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Second Reading". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  47. ^ "City's housing chief accused of 'racism' in heated exchange". Oxford Mail. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  48. ^ Whitfield, Graeme (5 July 2024). "Who is Luke Akehurst? Meet the new Labour MP for North Durham". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for North Durham
2024–present 		Incumbent
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