Samantha Dixon is the Labour MP for Chester North and Neston, having first been elected to parliament for the predecessor seat of City of Chester in a by-election on 1 December 2022.

In the 2024 general election, Dixon won 22,258 votes for Labour in Chester North and Neston, representing 49.8% of the vote. The Conservative candidate Simon Eardly received 10,388 votes (23.2%), while the Reform UK candidate Nicholas Goulding secured 5,870 votes (13.1%). Dixon was duly elected with a majority of 11,870.

The seat was newly created for the 2024 general election. It mainly incorporates parts of the former City of Chester constituency, represented by Dixon from 2022 to 2024 and Christian Matheson (Labour) from 2015 to 2022. It also includes areas from the former Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency, represented by Justin Madders (Labour) from 2015 to 2024.

It is located in the county of Cheshire in the North West of England, bordering North Wales and Merseyside. It includes the northern part of the city of Chester. Gyles Brandreth, broadcaster and former government whip, represented the City of Chester seat for the Conservatives from 1992 to 1997.

Political Career

Dixon served as parliamentary under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 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.

Dixon served as a senior government whip (vice-chamberlain of the household) from July 2024 to September 2025.

Prior to the 2024 general election, which saw Labour returned to power after 14 years in opposition, Dixon was parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to the shadow Treasury team and Rachel Reeves from February to September 2023, when she was appointed as an opposition whip.

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Dixon served as a member of the Treasury committee from March 2024 to May 2024 and the procedure committee from December 2023 to May 2024.

Dixon was first elected as the MP for the City of Chester constituency in a by-election on 1 December 2022. The by-election was triggered after the incumbent Labour MP Chris Matheson resigned following sexual misconduct allegations.

Speaking shortly after her victory was declared, Dixon said the result showed voters were “fed up” with the then-Conservative government. The by-election saw the Conservative Party record its worst result in Chester since 1832 – with candidate Liz Wardlaw getting 6,335 votes or 22.4%. Dixon won with 60.8% of the vote.

In her victory speech, Dixon said the Conservatives were “on borrowed time and people want to change”.

She added: “This is the cost of 12 years of Conservative government. The government, which has wreaked havoc with our economy, destroyed our public services and betrayed the people who put their trust in them at the last general election.”

Dixon delivered her maiden speech on 9 January 2023 during a debate on the Procurement Bill.

In it, she said: “As we reach the tail end of winter, the struggles that our communities are facing are not easing. The current economic climate makes it more important than ever to create a transparent procurement system; one with social value and public interest at its heart and which will support suppliers who act ethically and create high-quality jobs.”

She added: “Chester was a pioneer for social value in that, 21 years ago, our city became the very first Fairtrade city in the country. I am proud that in our city we live and breathe the principles of social value. Most importantly, I am honoured to have been elected to serve the people of Chester, and I will work hard for them every day.”

Before her election to parliament, Dixon served as a councillor on Cheshire West and Chester Council from 2011 to 2023. She was leader of the council between 2015 and 2019.

Dixon received an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours for political service in Chester.

Political views

Welfare

Welfare vote (July 2025): Dixon 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

Dixon voted in favour of 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): Dixon 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 in 1965, Dixon [née. Georgeson] was born in Reading. She moved to Chester from aged four and attended Christleton High School.

She studied English literature at the University of Sheffield, graduating in 1987.

After university, Dixon worked as a press officer for the auction house Sotheby’s in London.

Personal Life

Dixon is married and has three children.

Trivia

Dixon’s interests include reading and knitting. She has mentioned learning to knit socks the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Upon winning the 2022 City of Chester by-election, Dixon was the first MP to be elected in the reign of Charles III.

Dixon was “taken hostage” during the 2024 state opening of parliament – a role she performed in her capacity as vice-chamberlain of the household.