Lauren Edwards
Lauren Edwards | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament for Rochester and Strood | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Kelly Tolhurst |
| Majority | 2,293 (5.4%) |
| Member of Medway Council for Rochester East and Warren Wood Rochester East (2021–2023) | |
| In office 16 December 2021 – 16 December 2024 [1] | |
| Preceded by | Nick Bowler |
| Succeeded by | David Finch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lauren Rae Edwards Altona, Victoria, Australia |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | University of Adelaide London School of Economics |
Lauren Rae Edwards is an Australian-born British Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Rochester and Strood since 2024.[2]
Early life and career
Edwards was born in Altona, Melbourne, Australia, and was educated at the University of Adelaide before moving to the UK in 2005 to study for a master's at the London School of Economics.[3][4] Lauren has cited the "hope and optimism" prevalent in the United Kingdom during the early 2000s - characterised by the cultural and political climate shaped by New Labour, Britpop, and the 'Cool Britannia' movement - as a key factor in her decision to relocate to the UK.[5]
Edwards worked as a parliamentary researcher for a number of Labour MPs including Barbara Keeley, Teresa Pearce and Lisa Nandy from 2008 to 2013.[6][7] During this time she was Political Officer for Unite the Union's Parliamentary Staff Branch.[8] From 2013 to 2016 she worked as a researcher at the postal section of the Communication Workers Union.[9]
Edwards worked at the Bank of England before her selection as a parliamentary candidate, as a manager in financial regulation including a secondment to HM Treasury for about six months working on Brexit related legislation.[3]
Edwards has an English-born mother and holds British citizenship.[3]
Political career
In 2021, Edwards was elected to Medway Council in a by-election from Rochester East ward.[10] She was cabinet member for economic and social regeneration and inward investment.[11]
In 2024, she defeated incumbent Conservative MP Kelly Tolhurst to gain Rochester and Strood.
On 8 August 2024, Edwards issued an apology on Twitter following the emergence of tweets she wrote between 2009 and 2011 in which she used offensive language, described by The Guardian as a "series of 'racist' tweets", stating it was a "significant error of judgement".[12][13]
In November 2024, Edwards voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which proposes to legalise assisted suicide.[14] In a statement following the Third Reading Edwards stated 'I believe this Bill is one of the most important, compassionate, and empowering changes to healthcare we’ve seen in a generation.' and that the Bill 'I want to be clear: this Bill is about choice.-This choice does not replace hospice or palliative care'.[15]
Prior to the Second Reading of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, Edwards signed a reasoned amendment opposing the legislation. She cited concerns over proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility, stating that she could not support the bill in its original form due to the implications for passported benefits such as Carer’s Allowance.[16]
Following the Government’s announcement of additional investment to support people into work, and the removal of Clause 5 - which contained the proposed changes to PIP eligibility - Edwards voted in favour of the bill.[17]
References
- ^ "Lauren Edwards". Medway Elects. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ "Rochester and Strood – General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Keevil, Steven (5 November 2023). "'I know how to do a lot of the things, I could hit the ground running'". Local Authority. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Local democracy reporter Robert Boddy meets Rochester and Strood parliamentary candidate Lauren Edwards". Kent Online. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "MP speaks out for first time since 'offensive' tweet storm". Kent Online Premium. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ Devlin, Kate (8 August 2024). "New Labour MP Lauren Edwards accused of racism over 'f****** Estonians' tweet". The Independent. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Musk brands Starmer a 'hypocrite' - as X owner goads PM over Labour MP's deleted tweet". Sky News. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "The Operation of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 - Volume II" (PDF). Committee on Members' Expenses. UK Parliament. 12 December 2011. p. Ev 63. HC 1484–II. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Lauren Edwards". LinkedIn. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Labour's Lauren Edwards Wins Rochester East By-Election With Huge Majority". 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "'I thought people who stood for parliament were not of sound mind...'". Kent Online. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Rochester MP Lauren Edwards apologies for 'significant error of judgement' after old tweets surface". ITV News. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ Adu, Aletha (8 August 2024). "Suspended Labour councillor arrested over video 'urging people to cut throats'". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Second Reading". Votes in Parliament. 29 November 2024.
- ^ Edwards, Lauren (20 June 2025). "Lauren's Statement on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill and Assisted Dying".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Edwards, Lauren (5 June 2025). "My Thoughts following the Second Reading of the 'Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill'".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill: Second Reading - Commons' votes in Parliament - UK Parliament". votes.parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
External links