Dan Norris is the independent MP for North East Somerset and Hanham.

Norris was first elected to parliament at the 1997 general election for the predecessor constituency of Wansdyke. He served in parliament from 1997 to 2010.

Norris returned to parliament at the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 general election for the North East Somerset and Hanham constituency, Norris (standing as a Labour candidate) received 20,739 votes, representing 40.6% of the vote share. The Conservative candidate, Jacob Rees-Mogg, came second with 15,420 votes (30.2%), while the Reform UK candidate, Paul MacDonnell, secured 7,424 votes (14.5%). Norris was duly elected with a majority of 5,319.

The North East Somerset and Hanham constituency is located across Somerset and Gloucestershire.

The seat draws approximately 55% of its area from the abolished North East Somerset constituency, including Keynsham and rural areas to the south. The remaining 45% comprises Hanham and the southernmost areas of South Gloucestershire from the abolished Kingswood constituency. Norris succeeded Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former Conservative cabinet minister, as the MP for the area.

Political Career

In April 2025, Norris was arrested by Avon and Somerset Police on suspicion of sexual offences against a girl, child abduction and the rape of a woman. In February 2026, he was further arrested on suspicion of raping a woman, sexually assaulting another woman, and voyeurism and upskirting against a number of women. It was announced that the police were no longer investigating the alleged child sexual offences or abduction.

Norris is reported to be on police bail

Norris has denied the allegations. In a statement, he said: “I vigorously and entirely deny the serious allegations made against me. They are untrue. I am challenging them through my legal representatives.”

Following his arrest in April 2025, Norris was suspended by the Labour Party. He therefore sits as an independent MP.

In his initial parliamentary career, Norris served as parliamentary under-secretary of state for rural affairs and environment at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) from June 2009 to May 2010 and as an assistant whip for the Treasury from June 2001 to June 2003.

Norris was also a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to the Northern Ireland secretary, Peter Hain, (May 2006 – June 2007), and the foreign secretary, David Miliband, (June 2007 – January 2009). A PPS acts as an unpaid parliamentary assistant, providing a link between the senior frontbencher and backbench MPs.

Norris has been a member of the human rights joint committee (2005-2006).

Norris lost his Wansdyke seat at the 2010 general election following boundary changes that formed the North East Somerset constituency. He was defeated by Jacob Rees-Mogg who secured 21,130 votes (41.3%) and a majority of 4,914 over Norris in second place.

Norris served as mayor of the West of England from May 2021 to 2025.

Norris delivered his House of Commons maiden speech on 28 November 1997.

In it, he said: “One very bad legacy of the previous Conservative administration was the poor state of repair of school buildings, especially in the southern part of my constituency. I am very grateful, and pleased to be able to say, that the new Labour government have already made a difference.”

Before entering parliament, Norris served as a councillor on Bristol City Council (1989-1992, 1995-1997) and Avon County Council (1994-1996).

Norris stood unsuccessfully for the Northavon constituency in 1987 and the Wansdyke constituency in 1992.

Political Views

Factional identity and party tradition

Compass: Norris was endorsed by local groups of the cross-party organisation Compass during the 2024 general election. Compass is a thinktank and campaign group. As part of its “Win as One” campaign in the 2024 election, local Compass groups backed a slate of progressive candidates who had pledged their support for electoral reform. The central aim of the initiative was to elect a “caucus” of MPs who would champion the cause of replacing the first past the post (FPTP) electoral system.

Assisted dying

Norris 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): Norris 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.

Foreign policy and security

Iraq War authorisation vote (2003): In March 2003, Norris voted in favour of the government motion authorising military action against Iraq. The vote, one of the most contentious in recent parliamentary history, gave the prime minister, Tony Blair, the authority to join the US-led invasion.

Before Politics

Born on 28 January 1960 in London, Norris grew up in Winterbourne, South Gloucestershire.

He was educated at Chipping Sodbury School before studying at the University of Sussex, where he gained a master of arts degree in social work.

He worked as a teacher and child protection officer, training with the NSPCC.

Between his stints in parliament, Norris worked on David Miliband’s ill-fated 2010 Labour leadership campaign. He also served as a director of Blakemere plc (2013-2017) and was head of operations for the Russell Group of universities in 2016.

Personal Life

Norris is the son of David and June Norris. His father was a sales manager and social worker.

Trivia

Norris’ mother was a Labour councillor who contested the Northavon parliamentary constituency in 1983 and 1992.