Kerry McCarthy is the Labour MP for Bristol East, having first been elected to parliament at the 2005 general election.

In the 2024 general election, McCarthy won 20,748 votes, representing 45.0% of the vote. The Green Party candidate, Ani Stafford-Townsend, received 14,142 votes (30.7%), while the Conservative candidate, Dan Conaghan, secured 6,435 votes (14.0%). McCarthy was duly elected with a majority of 6,606 votes.  

The Bristol East constituency covers eastern parts of the city. Historically, it was represented by Conservative MP Jonathan Sayeed (1983-1992) and veteran Labour left-winger Tony Benn (1950-1983, representing predecessor seat Bristol South East). Labour has held the seat since 1992. 

Political Career

McCarthy served as parliamentary under-secretary of state for climate from July 2024 to September 2025. She left this post as part of the September 2025 ministerial reshuffle.

Previously, she served as shadow minister for climate change (2022-2024), shadow minister for green transport (2020-2021), shadow secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs (2015-2016), shadow minister for foreign and commonwealth affairs (2011-2015), shadow treasury minister (2010-2011), junior opposition whip (2010) and shadow minister for work and pensions (2010).

In June 2016, she was among those to resign from the shadow frontbench in protest at Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and his approach to the Brexit referendum.

In her letter of resignation, addressed to Corbyn, McCarthy wrote: “The referendum result was a huge disappointment, and we now face the challenge of negotiating our future relationship with the rest of Europe. Vital protections won through our EU membership must not be jettisoned.

“This requires strong leadership from the Labour Party, and an alternative vision for government, which is seen as credible by the wider electorate.

“Although I do not doubt your personal commitment to your long-held principles, I believe that a new leader is needed to take on the challenges ahead: steering our way through the very difficult period facing this country; exerting a decisive influence on the post-referendum negotiations; and winning broad-based electoral support.”

Under the last Labour government, she served as a junior whip (2009-2010) and as parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to the secretary of state for international development, Douglas Alexander (2007-2009).

McCarthy was a member of the House of Commons environmental audit committee (2016-2020), the petitions committee (2020), the environment, food and rural affairs committee (2016-2019), and the Treasury committee (2005-2007).

McCarthy delivered her maiden speech on 7 June 2005.

In it, she said: “Bristol also has a growing reputation as a centre for environmentally and ethically sound trading, and I am proud to say that in March it achieved fair trade city status.

“It would be fitting if we could celebrate the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade in 2007 by genuinely embracing the fair trade ethos, not just in Bristol and not just across Britain but by using our presidencies of the G8 and the European Union to instil such values on an international scale. From the slave trade to fair trade – that would be a legacy of which we could be truly proud.”

She added: “I am proud to become an MP at a time when the issues of trade justice, debt cancellation and overseas aid have come to the political forefront as never before.

“The people of Bristol have shown overwhelming support for the Make Poverty History campaign, and on Saturday I shall be joining them as they form a giant human white band around College Green in the city centre.”

Before entering parliament, McCarthy served as a Labour councillor on Luton borough council from 1999 to 2003 and was a director of the council-owned London Luton airport ltd (1999-2003).

Political views

Leadership elections and loyalty

Oppose leadership election: In May 2026, McCarthy was among the over 100 Labour MPs who signed a joint statement insisting it was “no time for a leadership contest.” The letter was an intervention in the political crisis engulfing Keir Starmer’s premiership, after Labour suffered heavy losses in the 2026 local elections and devolved elections to the Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru. It was organised as a counterweight to a mounting rebellion that had seen high-profile figures, including some ministers, call for Starmer’s resignation.

The statement read: “Last week we had a devastatingly tough set of election results. It shows we have a hard job ahead to win back trust from the electorate.

“That job needs to start today – with all of us working together to deliver the change the country needs.

“We must focus on that. This is no time for a leadership contest.”

Labour deputy leadership 2025: McCarthy was one of 117 Labour MPs who nominated Lucy Powell for the party’s deputy leadership in September 2025. The election followed the resignation of Angela Rayner, who stepped down as deputy prime minister and deputy party leader after an investigation into her tax affairs. It marked the first time since 2007 that Labour had held a deputy leadership contest while in government.

Powell, the former leader of the House of Commons, was seen as a candidate representing the party’s “soft left”; she was supported by leading soft left figures including Ed Miliband and Andy Burnham. She secured 117 nominations from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), above the 80 required, and went on to win the election – defeating Bridget Phillipson with 54.3% of the vote.

Labour leadership 2020: McCarthy was one of 82 Labour MPs who nominated Keir Starmer for the party’s leadership in early 2020. The election was triggered by the resignation of Jeremy Corbyn following the party’s defeat in the 2019 general election, which resulted in Labour’s fewest seats in the House of Commons since 1935.

Starmer’s 82 nominations were the highest of any candidate. The shadow Brexit secretary won a decisive victory in the first round with 56.2% of the vote, defeating Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy.

Labour leadership 2015: McCarthy was one of 68 Labour MPs who nominated Andy Burnham for the party’s leadership in June 2015. The election followed the resignation of Ed Miliband after the party’s defeat in the 2015 general election. It was the first contest held under the “one member, one vote” system, which replaced the previous electoral college.

Burnham, the shadow health secretary, was initially considered the frontrunner. He secured 68 nominations from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), comfortably exceeding the 35 required to reach the final ballot. He ultimately finished second in the contest with 19% of the vote, losing to Jeremy Corbyn in the first round.

Corbyn loyalty list: In March 2016, McCarthy was labelled as “core group negative” by the Corbyn leadership in a leaked list which categorised Labour MPs by their perceived loyalty. This label suggested the Corbyn leadership viewed McCarthy as a critic but not openly hostile.

Labour leadership 2016: McCarthy was one of 162 Labour MPs who nominated Owen Smith for the party’s leadership in July 2016. The election was triggered by a challenge to Jeremy Corbyn following the EU referendum, which led to a wave of shadow cabinet resignations and a vote of no confidence supported by 172 MPs. Smith, the former shadow work and pensions secretary, was ultimately defeated by Corbyn, who won with an increased mandate of 61.8% of the vote.

Labour leadership 2010: McCarthy was one of 33 Labour MPs who nominated Ed Balls for the party’s leadership in May 2010. The election followed the resignation of Gordon Brown, who stepped down as prime minister and Labour leader after the 2010 general election.

Balls, the former children, schools and families secretary, was regarded as the ultimate “Brownite” candidate, having served as Brown’s chief economic adviser for a decade before entering parliament. He secured 33 nominations from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), the minimum required to reach the final ballot. He ultimately finished third with 16% of the vote.

Factional identity and party tradition

SERA: McCarthy has been listed as a member of the Socialist Environment and Resources Association (SERA) – a socialist society affiliated with the Labour Party. Founded in 1973, SERA is the party’s official environmental campaign group. The organisation campaigns on a wide range of issues, including renewable energy, biodiversity, air quality and the transition to a green economy. SERA describes its member MPs as “champions for the environment”.

Brexit and Europe

Brexit referendum: McCarthy supported Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and therefore agreed with a majority of constituents, 53.2% of whom voted to Remain.

Article 50: In February 2017, McCarthy voted against the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. The legislation empowered the prime minister to notify the Council of the European Union of the UK’s intention to withdraw, formally triggering the process set out in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. MPs supported the bill by 498 votes to 114 at second reading. In voting against the bill, McCarthy defied the party whip – one of 47 Labour MPs to do so.

People’s vote support (2019): McCarthy signed a January 2019 statement by Labour MPs calling for a “people’s vote” or second referendum. The statement, signed by 71 Labour MPs, read: “Defeat of the Tory [Brexit] deal in a public vote would give us all a chance to campaign for the anti-austerity policies and a Labour government that deals with the true causes of the Brexit vote, and a reformed Europe that works for all people.”

Remain pledge: During the 2019 general election campaign, McCarthy was one of 193 Labour candidates to sign the anti-Brexit “Remain pledge”, drawn up by the campaign group Remain Labour.

It stated: “Labour is committed to a confirmatory referendum, to give you the final say on Brexit. If elected as your Labour MP, I pledge to campaign to Remain in the EU.”

Welfare

Welfare vote (July 2025): McCarthy voted in favour of the government’s flagship welfare bill at second reading. The vote came after ministers agreed to significant concessions to avoid defeat via a mass rebellion of Labour MPs on 1 July 2025.

Assisted dying

McCarthy voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, better known as the assisted dying bill, at both second reading (November 2024) and third reading (June 2025).

Social values and conscience issues

Same-sex marriage (2013): In February 2013, McCarthy voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill at its second reading. The landmark piece of legislation, which received its second reading by 400 votes to 175, legalised marriage for same-sex couples in England and Wales.

Foreign policy and security

Trident renewal (2016): McCarthy voted in favour of a government motion calling for the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent system in July 2016. The motion, which was passed by 472 votes to 117, committed the UK to constructing a new fleet of submarines to carry the nation’s nuclear weapons. Labour was split over the issue with 140 of its 230 MPs going against leader Jeremy Corbyn and backing the motion.

Syria airstrikes (2015): McCarthy voted against a government motion to extend UK airstrikes against Isis from Iraq into Syria in December 2015. The motion, which was passed by 397 votes to 223 after a ten-hour debate in the House of Commons, authorised the RAF to conduct strikes against Isis targets in Syria.

Syria airstrikes (2013): McCarthy voted against the government’s motion on the principle of military intervention in Syria in August 2013. The government motion was defeated by 285 votes to 272, a move which effectively ruled out UK participation in any US-led military strikes.

Sanctioned (Russia): In April 2022, McCarthy was among the group of MPs placed on a sanctions list by the Russian government. The measure barred them from entering Russia and was presented by Moscow as a retaliatory response to the UK’s stance on the invasion of Ukraine.

Palestine

LFPME: McCarthy has been listed as a member of Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East (LFPME). The organisation’s stated aim is to promote peace and justice in the region through the application of international law and respect for human rights.

Palestinian recognition vote (2014): In October 2014, McCarthy was one of 192 Labour MPs who voted in favour of recognising Palestine as a state. The motion, passed by 274 votes to 12, called on the government to “recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel as a contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution”.

Before Politics

Born Kerry Gillian McCarthy in Luton, Bedfordshire on 26 March 1965.

She attended Denbigh high school and Luton sixth form college. She studied Russian studies at the University of Liverpool and later law at City of London polytechnic (now London Metropolitan University). She qualified as a solicitor in 1994.

She worked as a solicitor for Abbey National treasury services (1994-1996) and Merrill Lynch Europe (1996-1999). She later worked for the pro-European pressure group Britain in Europe (2002-2004) and the Waterfront partnership (2004-2005).

Personal Life

McCarthy is vegan and has been for over 30 years. In November 2011, she became the first MP to outline the case for veganism in parliament.

She said: “If people are vegetarians for ethical reasons – because they believe that killing and eating animals is wrong – they really ought to be vegan, too. The average human eats more than 11,000 animals in his or her lifetime, but millions of calves and chicks are also killed every year as ‘waste products’ of milk and egg production…

“Meat consumption is an incredibly inefficient way to feed the planet. It takes 8 kg of grain to produce 1 kg of beef. It takes 100 times as much water to produce 1 kg of beef as it does to grow 1 kg of vegetables.

“It takes almost 120 calories of fossil fuel energy to produce 1 calorie of beef, compared with 2.2 calories to produce a single calorie of plant protein. It takes almost 21 square metres of land to produce 1 kg of beef, compared with 0.3 square metres to produce 1 kg of vegetables.”

Trivia

McCarthy is said to be a fan of punk and post-punk music and has written about industrial bands such as Cabaret Voltaire for the website Louder Than War.

She told the Guardian in 2015: “Music was my only exposure to leftwing ideas growing up.

“My father was working-class Tory, he was involved in demolition. All his friends were plumbers, electricians, builders – working class but aspirational, probably what you would these days describe as ‘a bit Ukip’.

“We didn’t have many books in the house, so I got into music, then started reading the music papers, then started thinking about the ideas behind the music. All the books I read were from namedrops in interviews, people like Camus or Orwell.

“I studied Russian at university because Dostoevsky was mentioned in a Joy Division tune.”