Sam Carling
Sam Carling | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for North West Cambridgeshire | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Shailesh Vara |
| Majority | 39 (0.09%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2002 (age 21–22) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | Christ's College, Cambridge |
Sam Carling (born 2002[1]) is a British politician who is serving as Member of Parliament for North West Cambridgeshire since 2024. A member of the Labour Party, he has represented West Chesterton on the Cambridge City Council since 2022. On his election to parliament in July 2024, he became the youngest MP and the first MP to be born in the 21st century.
Early life and education
Carling grew up in a rural town in North East England.[1] He attended Barnard Castle School, an independent boarding school in County Durham, and achieved 5 A* A-Level grades and an EPQ. He then read natural sciences at Christ's College, Cambridge, graduating with first-class honours in 2023.[2] A biomedical scientist,[3] he continued at Christ's as an MPhil student.[4][5]
Political career
Carling is a member of the Labour Party, and has served as co-chair of the Cambridge University Labour Club.[5] He was elected in 2022, while still an undergraduate, to represent West Chesterton on the Cambridge City Council[5][6] and was re-elected in May 2024.[4] He held the office of executive councillor for open spaces and city services,[7] and was a member of the Skills Committee of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.[6]
In the July 2024 United Kingdom general election, Carling ran for parliament as the Labour candidate in the North West Cambridgeshire constituency, emphasising public services in his campaign.[3] He defeated incumbent Conservative MP Shailesh Vara by a margin of 39 votes, verified by a recount.[8][9] The seat had been held by the Conservatives since its creation in 1997.[10] Elected at 22, Carling is the youngest Member of Parliament, the presumed Baby of the House,[1][10] and the first to be born in the 21st century.[11]
References
- ^ a b c Parry, Louise; Hulland, Louise (6 July 2024). "Meet the new youngest MP – born in 2002". BBC News. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Carling, Sam. "Sam Carling – LinkedIn Profile". LinkedIn. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ a b Herring, Francesca (28 May 2024). "General Election: Labour North West Cambs candidate Cllr Sam Carling". The Hunts Post. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b Vall, Wilf (4 May 2024). "Cambridge postgrad re-elected as City councillor". Varsity. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Vall, Wilf (5 July 2024). "Cambridge postgrad wins seat in Parliament". Varsity. 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. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Councillor Sam Carling". Cambridge City Council. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Burnett, Tom; Findlay, Cait (5 July 2024). "New Labour MP for North West Cambridgeshire elected in 'political earthquake'". Cambridgeshire Live. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Orla Moore (5 July 2024). "Labour wins Peterborough and NW Cambridgeshire". BBC News. 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.
- ^ 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.