Elaine Stewart is the Labour MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, having first been elected to parliament at the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 general election, Stewart won 14,930 votes, representing 36.5% of the vote. The Scottish National Party (SNP) incumbent, Allan Dorans, received 10,776 votes (26.3%), while the Conservative candidate, Martin Dowey, secured 9,247 votes (22.6%). Stewart was duly elected with a majority of 4,154.  

The Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock constituency, located in South West Scotland, was created in 2005. It has changed hands multiple times since its creation – between the Labour and the Conservatives parties and the SNP.

Political Career

Stewart serves as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) in the Department for Work and Pensions (since May 2026). A PPS acts as an unpaid parliamentary assistant, providing a link between the senior frontbencher and backbench MPs. The role is widely regarded as the first step on the ministerial ladder. Although they cannot speak for the government in debates, a PPS is bound by collective responsibility and becomes part of the so-called “payroll vote”, expected to support the official line in all divisions.

Stewart’s appointment to this PPS role was part of a targeted reshuffle designed to stabilise Keir Starmer’s position as prime minister after a series of resignations. At least four PPSs stepped down calling for Starmer to resign or set out a timetable for his departure. The move followed the 2026 local elections and devolved elections to the Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru. Conversely, Stewart’s appointment signalled their support for the prime minister.

Stewart has sat as a member of the Scottish affairs committee (2024-2026).

Stewart delivered her maiden speech on 5 September 2024 during a debate on the Great British Energy Bill.

In it, she said: “I am delighted to be making my maiden speech as part of the debate on the Great British Energy Bill. GB Energy will, of course, be headquartered in Scotland.

“With clean energy infrastructure already in place and the workforce to match, Ayrshire would be an ideal setting. However, regardless of where it is located, GB Energy will create thousands of jobs and deliver energy security and lower prices for consumers throughout the UK.”

She added: “The day before his tragic, untimely death, the late leader of the Labour party John Smith ended his last speech by saying: ‘The opportunity to serve our country – that is all we ask.’”

Before entering parliament, Stewart was elected as a Labour councillor on East Ayrshire Council in May 2022. She stood down in 2024.

Political views

Leadership elections

Labour deputy leadership 2025: Stewart 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.

Welfare

Welfare ‘reasoned amendment’ (June 2025): Stewart was one of the over 120 Labour MPs to sign the reasoned amendment to the government’s flagship welfare bill which aimed to reject the proposed legislation.

The amendment, in the name of senior Labour MP Dame Meg Hillier, objected to the fact that the bill had not been subject to a “formal consultation with disabled people” and that “250,000 people will be pushed into poverty” as a result of it, according to a government impact assessment.

The motion also called on the government to wait for the publication of the review into the Personal Independence Payment (Pip), helmed by minister Sir Stephen Timms, and the independent review, conducted by Sir Charlie Mayfield, into how the employment of disabled people could be boosted.

Welfare vote (July 2025): Stewart 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

Stewart 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

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Stewart voted in favour of a backbench amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that sought to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales in June 2025. The amendment, which was passed by a majority of 242 votes, removed women from the threat of prosecution for ending a pregnancy at any stage. As an issue of conscience, MPs were allowed to vote according to their personal beliefs.

Palestine

Palestinian recognition letter (July 2025): In July 2025, Stewart was among the over 254 MPs to sign a cross-party letter calling for the government to immediately recognise the state of Palestine. The letter called on the prime minister and foreign secretary to recognise Palestine at the UN Conference then taking place in New York.

Before Politics

Stewart grew up in the villages of Bellsbank and Dalmellington in East Ayrshire.

Stewart’s career before entering frontline politics centred on community projects within the third sector. She worked as a youth worker and for the Coalfield Regeneration Trust.

Personal Life

Stewart has two children.

She is the youngest of four siblings.

Trivia

Stewart worked as an au pair in New York when she was 18.