Alistair Strathern is the Labour MP for Hitchin, and was first elected to parliament at the Mid Bedfordshire by-election, held on 19 October 2023.

In the 2024 general election for the Hitchin constituency, Strathern received 23,067 votes, representing 44.8% of the vote share. The Conservative candidate, Bim Afolami, came second with 14,958 votes (28.5%), while the Reform UK candidate, Charles Bunker, secured 6,760 votes (12.9%). Strathern was duly elected with a majority of 8,109.

The Hitchin constituency lies predominantly in Hertfordshire, with a smaller portion extending into Bedfordshire. It is centred around the town of Hitchin and includes the towns of Shefford, Stotfold and Arlesey, as well as the villages of Langford and Clifton.

The seat was re-established for the 2024 general election, having previously existed between 1885 and 1983. It draws from the abolished Hitchin and Harpenden constituency, previously represented by the Conservative MP Bim Afolami, and parts of the Mid Bedfordshire constituency.

Political Career

Strathern serves as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) in the Treasury and to Rachel Reeves as chancellor (since July 2024). 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.

Prior to the 2024 general election, which saw Labour returned to power after 14 years in opposition, Strathern was appointed as a PPS, Reeves, the then shadow chancellor, and Ed Miliband as shadow energy security and net zero secretary.

Ahead of the 2024 general election, Strathern announced his intention to stand in the new Hitchin constituency, which incorporated his home in Shefford following boundary changes.

Strathern was first elected to parliament in October 2023 as the MP for Mid Bedfordshire. He won the seat in a by-election triggered by the resignation of the Conservative MP Nadine Dorries. This marked the first time a Labour candidate had won the seat in its 105-year history. Strathern secured 34.1% of the vote and a majority of 1,192 over the Conservative candidate, Festus Akinbusoye.

The Mid Bedfordshire by-election result followed a long period of campaigning. Dorries, a longstanding ally of Boris Johnson, had stated her intention to resign as an MP on 9 June 2023 – but she failed to do so officially until 26 August. Her last contribution in the commons – or any parliamentary arena (bill or select committees) – came on 7 July 2022, while serving as culture secretary.

Strathern delivered his maiden speech on 14 November 2023 during a debate on economic growth.

In it, he said: “I could not be prouder to have the honour of representing part of the county I grew up in. Although the name of my constituency may suggest otherwise, there is absolutely nothing middling about the beautiful 48 towns and villages of Mid Bedfordshire.”

He added: “I am under no illusion that I will face great challenges in living up to these principles in this place, but my door will always be open to anyone from right across the chamber who is willing to work with me – and not just because of the number of times over the last few weeks that I have managed to lock myself out of my office.”

Before entering parliament, Strathern served as a Labour councillor on Waltham Forest London Borough Council from May 2014 to September 2023.

Strathern previously stood unsuccessfully for the Holywell ward in the 2010 Oxford City Council election.

Political Views

Leadership elections and loyalty

Oppose leadership election: In May 2026, Strathern 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: Strathern was one of 175 Labour MPs who nominated Bridget Phillipson 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.

Phillipson, the serving education secretary, was widely viewed as the candidate favoured by Downing Street and the party leadership. She secured 175 nominations from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), comfortably exceeding the 80 required to reach the final ballot. She was ultimately defeated by Lucy Powell.

Factional identity and party tradition

Fair elections APPG: Strathern is listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for fair elections – a cross-party group of MPs and peers that campaigns for electoral reform. The group’s stated aims include replacing the first past the post (FPTP) voting system with a form of proportional representation, eliminating “dark money” and “undemocratic influence” from politics, and countering disinformation.

Welfare

Welfare vote (July 2025): Strathern 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

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

Social values and conscience issues

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Strathern 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.

Before Politics

Born on 5 March 1990, Strathern grew up in Bedfordshire. He was educated at Pinchmill Lower School, Lincroft Middle School and Sharnbrook Academy.

Strathern studied philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) at St Anne’s College, Oxford University. During his time at university, he chaired the Oxford University Labour Club.

After graduating, Strathern worked as a mathematics teacher.

From 2014 to 2015, Strathern was a director of Ascham Homes Limited, an arms-length management organisation responsible for providing council housing in Waltham Forest.

Strathern subsequently took a job at the Bank of England, working as a climate lead to regulate climate risk insurance.

Personal Life

Strathern’s partner is Megan Corton Scott, who has served as the deputy director of the Labour Climate and Environment Forum.

Theresa May, the former Conservative prime minister, is his first cousin, once removed.

In November 2023, May welcomed Strathern to parliament during a speech to the commons.

She stated: “I wanted to take the opportunity to welcome him to the House, despite the fact that I worked to make sure he did not get here. The reason I wanted to welcome and congratulate him is that he is my first cousin once removed. I am not sure whether that connection will do more damage to his career or mine.”

Strathern has a lisp.

Trivia

Before his election to parliament, Strathern took part in protests organised by the environmental campaign group Greenpeace. This included a 2022 stunt outside the Home Office where he dressed as a zombie to oppose the Public Order Act.

The Sun newspaper seized on this stunt during the 2023 Mid Bedfordshire by-election. The Sun described Strathern as “Keir’s eco zombie”.