Emily Thornberry

MP for Islington South and Finsbury

Labour

Emily Thornberry is the Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, having first been elected to parliament at the 2005 general election.

In the 2024 general election, Thornberry received 22,946 votes, representing 53.7% of the vote share. The Green Party candidate, Carne Ross, received 7,491 votes (17.5%), while the Liberal Democrat candidate, Terry Stacy, secured 4,045 votes (9.5%). Thornberry was duly re-elected with a majority of 15,455 votes.

The Islington South and Finsbury constituency is located in North London, immediately north of the City of London. It covers areas such as Canonbury, Holloway, Kings Cross, Clerkenwell, and Barnsbury.

The seat has been held by Labour continuously since 1983, previously represented by Chris Smith, the first openly gay male MP. Prior to that, it swung between Labour and the Conservatives. While now considered safe Labour territory, the Liberal Democrats polled strongly in 2005 and 2010.

Political Career

Thornberry chairs the House of Commons foreign affairs select committee (since September 2024) – the committee responsible for examining the expenditure, administration and policy of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and other associated bodies.

By virtue of this role, Thornberry sits on the liaison committee – the so-called “super committee” composed of the cross-party chairs of all the other commons select committees. It has a broad oversight role, but is best known for its questioning of the prime minister in sessions that take place two or three times a year.

Thornberry was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for political and public service in 2025.

Thornberry briefly stood in the 2025 Labour deputy leadership election but withdrew after struggling to garner the 80 nominations she needed from Labour MPs to make it through to the next stage.

In a statement posted to social media, Thornberry stated: “I’m deeply grateful to all the Labour members who have shared their support. But I have decided to withdraw.

“It has been a privilege to take part in this race with such brilliant women. I will always be committed to this party and do everything I can to make it successful.”

Prior to the 2024 general election, which saw Labour returned to power after 14 years in opposition, held several senior shadow cabinet positions. Most recently, she served a second term as shadow attorney general from November 2021 until the 2024 election. She was shadow secretary of state for international trade from April 2020 to November 2021.

Thornberry was not appointed as attorney general, the post she shadowed in opposition, after the 2024 general election. Keir Starmer, the new prime minister, instead appointed Richard Hermer, whom he elevated to the peerage to enable him to take up the role.

In a statement, Thornberry said she was “very sorry and surprised” at not being appointed to government. However, she said her “personal disappointment” did not “detract from the amazing and historic victory that all of us in the Labour movement worked together to win last week”.

She added: “I will continue giving my unstinting loyalty to our prime minister, Keir Starmer, as he leads that work, as I have done since he became leader, and I look forward to supporting his government in every way I can in the years to come.”

Under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, she was shadow secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs from June 2016 to April 2020.

Before that, she briefly served as shadow secretary of state for defence (January – June 2016) and shadow minister for health (2010 – 2011) and shadow minister for energy and climate change (2010).

Thornberry previously served as shadow attorney general under Ed Miliband from September 2011 until November 2014

Thormberry resigned from this post following controversy over a tweet she posted during the Rochester and Strood by-election, which depicted a house displaying England flags with a white van parked outside. The UK Independence Party (Ukip) said Thornberry had “sneered, and looked down her nose at a white van in Strood with the cross of St George on it”.

Thornberry subsequently said she had “made a mistake” and apologised “if she had upset or insulted anybody”.

Douglas Alexander, the shadow foreign secretary, said Miliband was “angry” after seeing Thornberry’s social media post.

Thornberry is known for sharp political commentary. As shadow foreign secretary, she once described Donald Trump as an “asteroid of awfulness”.

Thornberry stood as a candidate in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election. The contest was triggered by the resignation of Jeremy Corbyn following the party’s defeat in the 2019 general election, which resulted in Labour’s fewest seats in the House of Commons since 1935.

Thornberry received the support of 22 Labour MPs and was one of five candidates to reach the second stage of the contest. However, she was eliminated from the race on 15 February 2020 after failing to secure the required 33 nominations from Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) or three affiliated groups. This left Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy as the three candidates on the final membership ballot.

Among Thornberry’s supporters were Dawn Butler, Meg Hillier, James Murray and Nadia Whittome.

Launching her leadership campaign in January 2020, Thornberry told supporters: “We may be hurting, and we may be wounded, but we are not beaten… we’re going to tell Boris Johnson no – our fight is not over, our fight is just starting.”

In February 2020, Thornberry said she was “squeezed” in the race. “One [candidate Long-Bailey] is perceived as being on the left, with the support of Momentum and all the data that obviously Momentum has”, she told the BBC.

“And the other one [Starmer] therefore by comparison is seen as the right or the centre ground.”

She said a “leap of credibility” was “really important”, adding that the party “kind of lost our way before Jeremy was elected as leader”.

Thornberry was a member of the House of Commons health and social care committee (2015-2015), the housing, communities and local government committee (2006-2009), and the environmental audit committee (2005-2007).

Thornberry delivered her maiden speech on 24 May 2005.

In it, she said: “It is actually my own early experiences that called me to work proudly with this Government on poverty. I was brought up by a single parent on a council estate. My mum struggled for years to bring up me and my brothers on benefits. I wear the chips that I have on my shoulder with pride.”

She added: “In the end, what I am most proud of is the fact that I am a Labour MP. We may not be perfect, but only my government are serious about tackling poverty and lack of opportunity. I joined the Labour party to ensure that children like me did not only do well if we were lucky.

“I joined the Labour Party to change the world. We are committed to ending child poverty, not just on the market estate, or even just in Britain. We have an obligation to do all that we can to make poverty history.”

Thornberry stood unsuccessfully in the constituency of Canterbury at the 2001 general election.

Political Views

Leadership elections and loyalty

Labour leadership 2015: Thornberry was part of a group of MPs who lent their nominations to ensure Corbyn, a veteran backbencher, reached the threshold of 35 required to appear on the ballot, intending to “broaden the debate.” Following Corbyn’s landslide victory with 59.5% of the vote, several of these MPs expressed regret.

Corbyn loyalty list: In March 2016, Thornberry was labelled as “core group plus” by the Corbyn leadership in a leaked list which categorised Labour MPs by their perceived loyalty. This label suggested the Corbyn leadership viewed Thornberry as a reliable supporter.

Labour leadership 2016: Thornberry was one of the minority of Labour MPs who endorsed Jeremy Corbyn during his successful defence of the party leadership in September 2016. The election was triggered following a period of intense tension after the EU referendum, which saw a wave of shadow cabinet resignations and a vote of no confidence supported by 172 MPs.

Corbyn, who was automatically included on the ballot as the incumbent, was challenged by Owen Smith, the former shadow work and pensions secretary. Corbyn won the election with an increased mandate, securing 61.8% of the vote compared to 38.2% for Smith.

Labour leadership 2010: Thornberry was one of 63 Labour MPs who nominated Ed Miliband for the party’s leadership in May 2010. The election followed the resignation of Gordon Brown, who stepped down as prime minister and Labour leader after the 2010 general election.

Miliband, the former energy and climate change secretary, was seen as the candidate of the “soft left” and secured significant backing from affiliated trade unions. He secured 63 nominations from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), exceeding the 33 required to reach the final ballot. Miliband went on to narrowly defeat his brother, David, in the final round by 50.7% to 49.3%.

Factional identity and party tradition

SERA: Thornberry has been listed as a member of the Socialist Environment and Resources Association (SERA) – a socialist society affiliated with the Labour Party. Founded in 1973, SERA is the party’s official environmental campaign group. The organisation campaigns on a wide range of issues, including renewable energy, biodiversity, air quality and the transition to a green economy. SERA describes its member MPs as “champions for the environment”.

Brexit and Europe

Brexit referendum: Thornberry supported Remain in the 2016 EU referendum, and therefore agreed with a majority of her constituents, 71.7% of whom also voted to Remain.

Article 50: In February 2017, Thornberry voted in favour of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. The legislation empowered the prime minister to notify the Council of the European Union of the UK’s intention to withdraw, formally triggering the process set out in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. MPs supported the bill by 498 votes to 114 at second reading.

Welfare

Welfare vote (July 2025): Thornberry 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.

Social values and conscience issues

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Thornberry 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.

Trans rights: Thornberry attended a rally organised by Labour for Trans Rights, a pressure group within the Labour party, during the party’s annual conference in September 2025. The event was described as a “Trans Solidarity Rally” and was intended to affirm the place of transgender people and their allies within the Labour movement.

Same-sex marriage (2013): In February 2013, Thornberry voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill at its second reading. The landmark piece of legislation, which received its second reading by 400 votes to 175, legalised marriage for same-sex couples in England and Wales.

Foreign policy and security

Syria airstrikes (2015): Thornberry voted against a government motion to extend UK airstrikes against Isis from Iraq into Syria in December 2015. The motion, which was passed by 397 votes to 223 after a ten-hour debate in the House of Commons, authorised the RAF to conduct strikes against Isis targets in Syria.

Syria airstrikes (2013): Thornberry voted against the government’s motion on the principle of military intervention in Syria in August 2013. The government motion was defeated by 285 votes to 272, a move which effectively ruled out UK participation in any US-led military strikes.

Palestine

LFPME: Thornberry has been listed as a member of Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East (LFPME). The organisation’s stated aim is to promote peace and justice in the region through the application of international law and respect for human rights.

Palestinian recognition letter (July 2025): In July 2025, Thornberry 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.

Palestinian recognition vote (2014): In October 2014, Thornberry was one of 192 Labour MPs who voted in favour of recognising Palestine as a state. The motion, passed by 274 votes to 12, called on the government to “recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel as a contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution”.

Before Politics

Born Emily Anne Thornberry in Guildford, Surrey, on 27 July 1960, she grew up in Kent.

Her father, Cedric Thornberry, was a UN assistant secretary-general and visiting professor at the London School of Economics, and her mother, Sallie Thornberry, was a teacher. Her parents divorced when she was young.

After leaving school, Thornberry worked in jobs including as a care assistant and cleaner while studying law at the University of Kent. She qualified as a barrister.

Called to the bar in 1985, Thornberry practiced as a human rights and employment law barrister from 1985 until her election to parliament in 2005.