Claire Young is the Liberal Democrat MP for Thornbury and Yate, having first been elected to parliament at the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 general election, Young won 20,815 votes, representing 39.0% of the vote. The Conservative candidate, Luke Hall, received 17,801 votes (33.4%), while the Reform UK candidate, Andrew Banwell, secured 7,529 votes (14.1%). Young was duly elected with a majority of 3,014 votes.  

The Thornbury and Yate constituency is located in Gloucestershire in South West England. It was held by Luke Hall of the Conservatives from 2015 to 2024, and by the Liberal Democrats from its creation in 2010 to 2015.

Political Career

Young is a member of the House of Commons energy security and net zero committee (since October 2024). The committee scrutinises the work of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Young led a Westminster Hall debate on consumer-led flexibility for a just transition in December 2025. She called for people to be given “the chance to take control and be active participants in our energy system, rather than being at its mercy.”

Young is listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for tidy Britain (vice chair).

Young delivered her maiden speech on 29 July 2024 during a debate on the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill.

In it, she said: “I am grateful for the opportunity to make this speech in this important debate, because if we are to tackle the climate crisis and cut congestion on our roads, we must get rail services back on track to give people genuine alternatives to get around effectively.”

She added: “In conclusion, I promise to work tirelessly for my constituents, not only on fixing our railways, but on other issues too, such as the fact that our schools are among the lowest funded in the country and that it is almost impossible to register with an NHS dentist locally.

“I look forward to working constructively with right honourable and honourable members across the House to address these problems and ensure that the people of Thornbury and Yate get the fair deal they deserve.”

Before entering parliament, Young was elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor on South Gloucestershire Council in 2007. She served as leader of the council from 2023 to 2024. She stood down from the council in 2024.

Young previously stood unsuccessfully as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Thornbury and Yate in both the 2017 and 2019 general elections.

Political Views

The Liberal Democrats (or Lib Dems) are a liberal political party, occupying the centre to centre-left ground in British politics.

The preamble to the Lib Dem constitution begins: “The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.”

The Liberal Democrat autumn conference in 2021 ratified a policy paper entitled What Liberal Democrats Believe. The paper, an attempt to expand on the constitution’s preamble, was framed around seven “principles and values”.

The party’s core values were described as “liberty, equality, democracy, community, internationalism and environmentalism.”

Young is a member of the Green Liberal Democrats, an official environmental group within the Liberal Democrats. It aims to “promote a green approach to policy formation within the Liberal Democrats” and “develop links with the wider green movement.” The grouping, formed in 1977 as a faction within the Liberal Party, is “committed to a net-zero and nature positive future and driving ambition across the national party and in local governance.”

Young is listed as a supporter 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.

In December 2024, Young voted in favour of the Elections (Proportional Representation) Bill – introduced by Liberal Democrat frontbencher Sarah Olney under the 10-minute rule procedure. The bill sought to “introduce a system of proportional representation for parliamentary elections and for local government elections in England”.

A total of 138 MPs supported the bill – with 136 opposed. Notably, 59 Labour MPs backed Olney’s bill.

Introducing the bill, Olney told the House: “First past the post is a broken and unfair system. This summer, the Labour party won a landslide election victory, securing 63% of seats in the House of Commons in return for just 34% of the vote.

“The system leaves millions of voices unheard and creates a divisive, adversarial political climate where collaboration is discouraged and accountability is often sidestepped.”

Brexit and Europe

Customs union vote (2025): In December 2025, Young supported the UK-EU Customs Union (Duty to Negotiate) Bill. The bill, introduced under the 10-minute rule procedure by Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton, sought to mandate the government to enter into negotiations with the European Union to establish a bespoke customs union. In total, 13 Labour MPs joined the Liberal Democrats in supporting the motion, while the majority of the party abstained.

Assisted dying

Young 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

Young was one of the 38 Liberal Democrat MPs who voted for the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 at its House of Commons third reading.

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Young 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, Young 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

Claire Louise Young studied mathematics at the University of Cambridge, graduating in 1995. She obtained a master of science (MSc) in software engineering from the University of Oxford in 1999, and later a masters by research in global environmental challenges from the University of Bristol in 2024.

Young’s career before entering frontline politics centred on roles in the software industry, including for IBM, with stints in Silicon Valley. She went on to work for high-tech start-up businesses.

Personal Life

Young lives in her Thornbury and Yate constituency. She has two sons.

In November 2024, Young stated that she experiences hearing loss and requires the use of hearing aids.  

Trivia

Young is a keen walker and photographer.