The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

20 under 40: parliament's rising stars

This week's New Statesman profiles 20 MPs who are ambitious, ahead of the pack, and under the age of 40.

By Samira Shackle Published 15 September 2011 9:20

The last election saw the arrival of 227 new MPs, the biggest rookie intake since 1997. The New Statesman, in association with Insight Public Affairs, has compiled a list of 20 MPs aged under 40 who we think have the brightest prospects in the House. The list excludes frontbenchers, although among them are sure to be future ministers and even prime ministers. As the NS leader notes this week: "so far, the 2010 generation has shown itself to be independent-minded and politically precocious, with a reassuring tendency to defy the whips".

We will be following them and reporting back on their progress in the years ahead. For now, here is the list. You can read profiles of these MPs in this week's NS, currently available on the newsstands.

Rushanara Ali (Lab) - born 1975

Luciana Berger (Lab) - 1981

Rehman Chishti (Con) - 1978

Stella Creasy (Lab) - 1977

Michael Dugher (Lab) - 1975

Sam Gyimah (Con) - 1976

Duncan Hames (Lib Dem) - 1977

Matthew Hancock (Con) - 1978

Tristram Hunt (Lab) - 1974

Jo Johnson (Con) - 1971

Gregg McClymont (Lab) - 1976

Lisa Nandy (Lab) - 1979

Priti Patel (Con) - 1972

Dominic Raab (Con) - 1974

Rachel Reeves (Lab) - 1979

Rory Stewart (Con) - 1973

Jo Swinson (Lib Dem) - 1980

Elizabeth Truss (Con) - 1975

Chuka Umunna (Lab) - 1978

John Woodcock (Lab) - 1978

Tags: 20 under 40

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16 comments

Sat, 2011-09-17 03:22 — gjyuyu

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Thu, 2011-09-15 20:51 — frances smith (not verified)

@stuff
about your who is responsible for PPE at oxford, i try to know as little about what goes on at oxford university as i can, so i don't know all their names, but i have long been thinking about starting a "vernon bogdanor must be sacked" campaign, if you're interested in joining!

Thu, 2011-09-15 21:32 — matthew fox (not verified)

I saw Glenda Jackson give Patel a severe beating during a Commons debate, not so long ago. Patel is a modern day Lady Olga Maitland.

Thu, 2011-09-15 09:34 — swatantra nandanwar

I'd agree with most of the names apart from Priti Patel who is a pain in the neck.
But I'd go easy on the PM material tag because it is certain to kill their chances. Look what happened to David Lammy, and Ed Milliband.

Thu, 2011-09-15 09:55 — kenelm (not verified)

Nobody under the age of 40 should be a MP. Osborne, Cameron, Clegg, all have the look and behaviour of schoolboys. They are perhaps the worst examples, but there is a general need for mature people to be in such an important role.

And, I would like to hear the stories of the new and older MPs. Much more interesting.

Thu, 2011-09-15 10:14 — swatantra nandanwar

Melborne Gladstone and Palmerston continued well into their 80's. But that was the Vicorian age.
We now expect our politicians to be to peak around 45-50.
Yes, there should be an age limit for MPs 30-70.
So Sir Peter Tapsell and Dennis Skinner and others should have stepped down years ago to make way for new blood, like the youngsters mentioned in the article.

Thu, 2011-09-15 10:58 — Marcus (not verified)

@kenelm - I agree. Nobody under 40 should be deemed experienced enough to lead a constituency, yet alone a nation.

We should also limit politicians to 3 terms. It should not be a career, it should be a richly rewarded service they provide as citizens to our society.

Until we make this country a meritocracy we are going to end up with Ed, Ed, Dave, George and Nick.

@swatantra nandanwar - Yes, i can think of many more that should have stepped down long ago.

This aside, the chief problem with our political system is tribalism. If all candidates were independents then we would see a much more representative house and a house that actually achieves things.

The current politicians will never act though as they are the establishment and quite happy with the control and power they yield.

Thu, 2011-09-15 11:23 — duck soup

What a bunch of smug poseurs.It looks like a publicity still for a new series of The Apprentice.

Thu, 2011-09-15 11:20 — Graham (not verified)

Why is Matthew Hancock the only one listed as Tory?

Thu, 2011-09-15 11:25 — Morky (not verified)

Interesting, I am amazed Liz Kendall is absent from the list though.

Thu, 2011-09-15 11:53 — swatantra nandanwar

For thos that say: '... but OAPs have needs and interests and have a right to be represented and their voice heard etc etc etc' ... I say: so have toddlers but we don't elect 5 yr olds to the House.

Thu, 2011-09-15 12:33 — duck soup

Jo Swinson's Westminster career doesn't have a bright prospect.The Scottish Lib Dems couldn't win a constituency seat on the mainland in the Holyrood election.A recent Scottish poll put them at 3%.Even supposing there was another Westminster election before independence,Jo Swinson would only have the slenderest chance at best of retaining her seat.Danny Alexander would have abolutely no chance of getting back in.

Thu, 2011-09-15 13:44 — Maxy (not verified)

Have you heard the right wing claptrap that Pritti Patel, Sam Gymiah and Rehman Christi have come out with on debates in parliament. Like a lot of ethnic minority MP's there does not seem to be a lot of substance to the short muddled contributions I have heard them make in parliament. If this is what counts for being bright and independent minded, God help the rest of us. NO wonder JOe Public has such a low opinion of MP's. As for their being merit in ebing the right side of 40 years. I say this is far too young to be an MP. Cameron for all his polish and snooty eloquence lacks gravitas and has shown political incompetence in a number of policy issues. As for Chuka Umuna he comes across as smarmy, smug and completely unbelievable. It seems that making a few pertinent soundbites on the Treasury Select Committee is all that is required to be considered a high flyer. As for Rory Stewart, being a military man, he got it wrong on Libya and I predict that Britain will be playing host to a failed and fractious state for many years to come.

Fri, 2011-09-23 14:22 — ted harvey

Kinda reminds of that 90s notorious group photograph of "Blairs' Babes". What happened to most of them ought to be a warning on hubris and promotion-by-media to this current twenty.

Thu, 2011-09-15 17:48 — Mrs,M L Bonwick-Jones (not verified)

Jo Swinton , Sweet Girl but i dont Think So, Why is Zac Goldsmith not on the List , He is Intellegent, Nice, Not Swarmy, not afraid to stand up to the Goverment and Handsome! I am also glad that Dominic is on the List , He is Quite brilliant,Not Sure about Priti Patel, she is rather too extreme to appeal to everyone,I am Glad that The Lovely Chuka Umunna is their But what about the Brilliant Tom Watson or the charming Douglas Alexander_ He is Under 40 and even if that is not the case i do not have a problem with watching him! Where is the beautiful Nicola Blackwood,ans prehaps Matthew Hancock being mentioned as the only Tory is a clue!!!!!!!

Thu, 2011-09-15 18:38 — stuff (not verified)

Can anybody answer this question?
Who has been setting up the PPE degrees at Oxford/Cambridge?
Who have been lecturing etc. on these courses?
They appear to have much to answer for?