Nesil Caliskan is the Labour Party MP for Barking, having first been elected to parliament at the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 general election, Caliskan won 16,227 votes, representing 44.5% of the vote. The Reform UK candidate, Clive Peacock, received 5,173 votes (14.2%), while the Green Party candidate, Simon Anthony, secured 4,988 votes (13.7%). Caliskan was duly elected with a majority of 11,054.

The Barking constituency has been held by the Labour Party since its creation in 1945, and is considered a safe Labour seat.

Caliskan’s immediate predecessor as the MP for Barking was Dame Margaret Hodge of the Labour Party. Hodge, who had represented the constituency since 1994 and held ministerial roles, stood down at the 2024 general election.

Political Career

Caliskan served as a parliamentary under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government from May to July 2026. Her appointment to this post was part of a targeted reshuffle designed to stabilise Keir Starmer’s position as prime minister after a series of resignations. She left government as part of the July 2026 reshuffle conducted by Andy Burnham upon his appointment as prime minister.

Caliskan served as comptroller of HM household (a government whip role) from September 2025 to May 2026.

Caliskan has served as a member of the House of Commons public accounts committee (2024-2025).

Caliskan delivered her maiden speech on 23 July 2024 in a debate on immigration and home affairs.

In it, she said: “My grandparents, Osman and Neriman Tango, are of Turkish Cypriot Muslim background. They escaped violence in Cyprus, arriving in London on Christmas eve in 1972. My mum, Alev, was born in Cyprus in 1967 and was cared for in a United Nations tent.

“The three of them sought safety in the melting pot that is London’s east end. They spoke no English, they had no qualifications and no money, but they were safe.”

She added: “As I stand in this chamber and address honourable members, I cannot help but think of my grandfather, my late grandmother and my mum. I do not think my grandparents could have envisioned that in one generation their granddaughter would be a member of the mother of all parliaments.

“It shows what is possible in this country, and I feel so deeply honoured to be here.”

Before entering parliament, Caliskan served as a Labour councillor on Enfield London Borough Council from 2015 to 2024. She was leader of the council from 2018 to 2024.

Caliskan served on Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) from 2023 to 2024.

Caliskan was one of seven NEC representatives who were elected as MPs in 2024.

Caliskan’s selection as the Labour candidate for Barking came amid some controversy. Caliskan was selected in June 2024 after the leader of the Barking and Dagenham Council, Darren Rodwell, withdrew his candidacy over allegations of sexual harassment. Rodwell denied the allegations and was later cleared of misconduct.

Political views

Factional identity and party tradition

Get Britain Working Group: Caliskan has been listed as a member of the Get Britain Working Group of Labour MPs – a caucus supportive of the Starmer leadership’s position on welfare. The group argues for a “new social contract built on employment and opportunity”, focusing on the rising number of people out of the workforce due to long-term sickness.

In an open letter, issued upon the group’s founding in March 2025, the group expressed its support for the government’s welfare measures set out in the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill. The bill was subject to a significant revolt of over 120 Labour MPs – which forced ministers into a series of concessions shortly before its first vote in the House of Commons.

Ahead of the bill’s fraught second reading debate, the MPs wrote: “Our Labour values are built on a simple but powerful idea: that every individual, regardless of background or circumstance, should have the support they need to make the most of their lives.

“Everyone who is capable of working deserves the security, dignity and agency that employment offers. Of course, there are some people who are not able to work and they must be treated with compassion and respect. But for those that can, we must restore the pathways to opportunity which are currently so sparse for millions of people.

“It is exactly what a Labour government exists to do.”

Labour Growth Group: Caliskan has also been listed as a member of the Labour Growth Group (LGG) – a vocal faction of backbenchers committed to ensuring economic growth remains the central mission of the government. The group, largely composed of MPs from the 2024 intake, positions itself as the voice of “the builders, not the blockers” and provides organised support for ministers taking on politically difficult decisions in the name of economic expansion.

In an open letter addressed to Keir Starmer, issued upon the group’s founding in July 2024, LGG MPs said it was imperative that “the government grasps the nettle and goes for growth”.

They added: “This absolutely has to start with the sweeping planning reforms to get Britain building again. Under the Tories, planning permissions for new homes hit record lows and housebuilding cratered. Indeed, not once in their 14 years in power did the Conservatives meet their housing targets.

“Energy and transport projects were promised but not built. That’s why we are writing to you to make clear that it’s in the national interest to start delivering on our manifesto promise, including 1.5 million more homes across this parliament at the earliest opportunity.

“A failure to act will not be forgiven by the public. Britain has a housing crisis and a huge infrastructure deficit – without strong and immediate action, this will only worsen.”

Welfare

Welfare vote (July 2025): Caliskan 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

Caliskan 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): Caliskan 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 Nesil Cazimoglu in Enfield, North London, in October 1988, she is of Turkish Cypriot heritage.

She studied politics and international relations at the University of Reading and later gained a master’s degree from the London School of Economics (LSE) in politics and communications.

She held roles in the NHS from 2016 to 2018.

Personal Life

Caliskan is married to academic and author Emre Caliskan. She gave birth to her first child in 2024.

Trivia

Caliskan joined the Labour Party at the age of 15.