Stephen Doughty was first elected as the Labour MP for Cardiff South & Penarth in a 2012 by-election, being reelected in 2019 with a majority of 12,737.
The constituency of Cardiff South and Penarth contains many of the coastal districts of the Welsh capital including the coastal town of Penarth. For many decades after the Second World War, this area was represented at Westminster by the former Labour Prime Minister, James Callaghan. It is one of the most ethnically diverse seats in Wales.
Doughty was appointed as Shadow Minister of Africa and International Development in 2020.
He nominated Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership in 2020, and supported Owen Smith in his 2016 challenge to Jeremy Corbyn. He backed Liz Kendall in the 2015 leadership contest, and is considered to be on the right of the Labour Party.
Doughty was born in Cardiff in 1980, and was educated at Oxford University and at the University of St Andrews. During his early career, he worked for Oxfam International and, in 2011, became the head of Oxfam Cymru.
Doughty is a part time reservist in the British army.
Doughty is a Christian and a member of Christians on the Left. He is a season ticket holder at Cardiff Football Club.
He has served as Chairman of the LGBT+ group of Labour MPs.
In late 2021, Doughty was was criticised by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner for a “severe error of judgement” and for complicity in committing a criminal offence after asking a constituent to supply him with the prescription-only drug diazepam to help him with mental health difficulties. He was though not found to have broken the ‘Code of Conduct’ for MPs.
Stephen Doughty is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV and AiDS. He is Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Global Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights; Pacific Islands; Armed Forces; Climate Change; and Fairtrade.
Email: stephen.doughty.mp@parliament.uk
Personal Website: http://www.stephendoughty.org.uk
Twitter: @SDoughtyMP
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/stephendoughtymp
