Claire Young
Claire Young | |
---|---|
![]() Official portrait, 2024 | |
Member of Parliament for Thornbury and Yate | |
Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
Preceded by | Luke Hall |
Majority | 3,014 (5.6%) |
Leader of South Gloucestershire Council | |
In office 24 May 2023 – 18 July 2024 | |
Preceded by | Toby Savage |
Succeeded by | Maggie Tyrrell |
Member of South Gloucestershire Council for Frampton Cotterell | |
Assumed office 2 May 2019 | |
Member of South Gloucestershire Council for Westerleigh | |
In office 3 May 2007 – 2 May 2019 | |
Succeeded by | Division abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | Claire Louise Young 16 March 1974 |
Political party | Liberal Democrats |
Alma mater | |
Claire Louise Young[1] is a Liberal Democrat politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Thornbury and Yate since 2024.[2] Before the election, she was also the Leader of South Gloucestershire Council.
Early life and education
[edit]Young graduated with a Master of Mathematics from the University of Cambridge in 1995 and a Master of Science in Software Engineering from the University of Oxford in 1999. She later completed a Masters by Research in Global Environmental Challenges at the University of Bristol in 2024.[3] After graduating from Cambridge Young spent a decade working in the software industry. She began her career with IBM, where her work included stints in Silicon Valley, and later worked for high-tech start-up businesses in the UK.[4]
Political career
[edit]Young has been a Councillor on South Gloucestershire Council since 2007, first being elected to represent Westerleigh.[5] During this time she has campaigned with other parents to end the under-funding of local schools, which are amongst the lowest funded in the country. She also fought for better support for children with special needs and disabilities, chairing a Council review of this area of provision.[6]
Young first stood for the Parliamentary constituency of Thornbury and Yate at the 2017 United Kingdom general election, where she came second. She stood again at the 2019 United Kingdom general election, again coming second.
At the 2023 South Gloucestershire Council election, Young was re-elected as a Councillor for Frampton Cotterell ward with an increased share of the vote. The results saw the ruling Conservative administration lose 10 seats, losing control of the administration for the first time since 2015. After a period of negotiations, Young became Leader of the Council following an agreement which saw the Liberal Democrats and Labour agree to form a joint administration.[7]
At the 2024 United Kingdom general election, she contested the Thornbury and Yate seat for a third time - defeating Conservative incumbent Luke Hall by 3,014 votes.
Shortly after the result was declared, Young announced that she would be standing down as Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, telling the BBC "I'm going to stand down because I think it's important that Leader of council in itself is a full time role. I think it's important to do to do one job well".[8]
Parliamentary career
[edit]Young was sworn in as an MP on 10 July. She made her maiden speech on 29 July during a debate on the future of British railways. In her speech, she called for the Government to improve South Gloucestershire's railway links by investing in greater flood prevention, support the redevelopment of Yate station, and reopen the stations at Pilning, Coalpit Heath and Thornbury.[9]
Personal life
[edit]Young lives and raised her two children in Coalpit Heath.[10] In her spare time she is a keen walker and amature photographer.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Members Sworn". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 752. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 10 July 2024.
- ^ "New Thornbury and Yate MP revealed in close election". Gazette. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- ^ "Meet our Climate Ambassadors". Climate Outreach. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Claire's Story". South Gloucestershire Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Local Election Results 2007 South Gloucestershire". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Claire's Story". South Gloucestershire Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Liberal Democrat and Labour partnership, Leaders and Cabinet Members agreed at South Gloucestershire's annual full Council meeting". South Gloucestershire Newsroom. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Council leader to resign so she can do 'one job well'". BBC News. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "What new MP said about Thornbury and Yate in parliament". Gazette. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Our new MPs: Andrew George, Gideon Amos, Cameron Thomas, Claire Young and Rachel Gilmour". Liberal Democrat Voice. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Claire's Story". South Gloucestershire Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
External links
[edit]- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
- Living people
- Alumni of the University of Bristol
- Alumni of the University of Cambridge
- Alumni of the University of Oxford
- UK MPs 2024–present
- Liberal Democrats (UK) MPs for English constituencies
- Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies
- 1974 births
- UK MP for England stubs