Chris Elmore

Christopher Philip James Elmore (born 23 December 1983) is a Welsh Labour Party politician who was Member of Parliament (MP) for Ogmore from 2016 to 2024. At the 2024 United Kingdom general election, he was elected as MP for Bridgend.

Early life and career

Christopher Elmore was born on 23 December 1983 in Newport and lived in Brynmawr and Caerphilly as a child.

He started his working life as a trainee butcher and later attended Cardiff Metropolitan University completing a degree in History and Culture in 2005. Elmore then worked in a number of professions including further education.

In 2008, Elmore was elected as a councillor for Casteland in the Vale of Glamorgan Council. Later he was appointed as a cabinet member for children's services and schools.

Parliamentary career

Elmore stood as the Labour candidate in Vale of Glamorgan at the 2015 general election, coming second with 32.6% of the vote behind the incumbent Conservative MP Alun Cairns.

At the 2016 Ogmore by-election, Elmore was elected to Parliament as MP for Ogmore with 52.6% of the vote and a majority of 8,575.

In June 2016, Elmore was joined the Justice Select Committee before also joining the Welsh Affairs Select Committee in July. In October 2016, he was appointed to the frontbench position of Opposition whip.

He supported Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 Labour Party leadership election.

Since his election as an MP, Elmore has particularly focused on issues that impact young people, often speaking in parliament and elsewhere on the subject. Youth engagement is an issue on which Elmore previously campaigned as a councillor.

At the snap 2017 general election, Elmore was re-elected as MP for Ogmore with an increased vote share of 62.4% and an increased majority of 13,871.

In 2017, Elmore was elected as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Rail in Wales. He has been a vocal opponent of the government's 2017 decision to cancel the planned electrification of the Great Western Mainline between Cardiff and Swansea. He has campaigned on issues including passenger safety.

Elmore was again re-elected at the 2019 general election, with a decreased vote share of 49.7% and a decreased majority of 7,805.

In April 2020, Elmore was made Shadow Minister for Scotland by new leader Keir Starmer. In this role he supported Ian Murray, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland. He was also made a senior Opposition whip as a Shadow Lord Commissioner of HM Household.

Elmore is a member of Labour Friends of Israel.

In June 2024, Elmore was selected as the Labour candidate for Bridgend at the 2024 general election.

References

External links

• Official website
• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
• Voting record at Public Whip
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou