Imogen Walker is the Labour MP for Hamilton and Clyde Valley, having first been elected to parliament at the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 general election, Walker won 21,020 votes, representing 49.9% of the vote. The Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate, Ross Clark, received 11,548 votes (27.4%), while the Conservative candidate Richard Nelson secured 4,589 votes (10.9%). Walker was duly elected with a majority of 9,472.  

The Hamilton and Clyde Valley constituency, located in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, was newly created ahead of the 2024 election. It primarily incorporated areas from the former Lanark and Hamilton East constituency, previously represented by Angela Crawley of the SNP (2015-2024).  

Political Career

Walker served as an assistant government whip from September 2025 to July 2026. She left government as part of the July 2026 reshuffle conducted by Andy Burnham upon his appointment as prime minister.

Walker served as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) in the Treasury (2024-2025). 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.

Walker delivered her maiden speech on 21 October 2024 during a debate on the Employment Rights Bill.

In it, she said: “On my father Jamieson’s side, generations across South Lanarkshire were shopkeepers and metalworkers, the kind of people who keep our country going and whose lives are changed by the decisions we make here – knocked back if we get it wrong and raised up when we get it right.

“I am the product of generations who sometimes thrived, often struggled and were ultimately given the opportunity to fulfil their potential through hard-won rights. I want that for everyone: the chance to make a good life for themselves and their loved ones. That is why I am here, and that is what this government will do.”

Before entering parliament, Walker served as a Labour councillor on Lambeth London Borough Council for twelve years, from 2006 to 2018.

Political Views

Factional identity and party tradition

SERA: Walker 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”.

Labour Movement for Europe: Walker was endorsed by the Labour Movement for Europe (LME) in the 2024 general election. Founded in 1981, LME is a pro-European socialist society affiliated with the Labour Party. It campaigns for a close relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union. The organisation refers to itself as the “home of the pro-Europeans in the Labour and trade union movement”.

Welfare

Welfare vote (July 2025): Walker 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

Walker voted against 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): Walker voted against 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.

Walker was one of 25 Labour MPs to vote against the amendment.

Before Politics

Walker grew up in Lanark. She studied mental philosophy at the University of Edinburgh.

Walker was vice president of the RSPCA from 2010 to 2019. She has also held consulting and advisory roles.

Personal Life

Walker is married to Morgan McSweeney, who served as Downing Street chief of staff from 2024 to 2026. They have one son together.  

Trivia

Walker worked as an actor before pursuing a full-time career in politics, performing roles in Taggart, Doctors and The Big Read.