Chris Ward (British politician)
Chris Ward | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office | |
| Assumed office 6 September 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Hon. Georgia Gould Abena Oppong-Asare |
| Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister | |
| In office 17 July 2024 – 6 September 2025 Serving with Liz Twist | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Craig Williams |
| Succeeded by | Liz Twist |
| Member of Parliament for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Lloyd Russell-Moyle |
| Majority | 9,609 (23.8%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Christopher David Ward 1982 (age 42–43) West Sussex, England |
| Party | Labour |
| Alma mater | Warwick University (BA) New College, Oxford (MPhil) |
Christopher David Ward (born 1982)[1][2] is a British politician who serves as Member of Parliament for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven since 2024.[3]
A member of the Labour Party, Ward was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office in 2025.[4]
Early life and education
Ward was born in 1982[5] and grew up at Southwick, West Sussex, to parents hailing from Peacehaven, East Sussex.
A supporter of Brighton & Hove Albion FC,[6] Ward joined the Labour Party at the age of 18.[6] He read History & Politics at the University of Warwick, graduating BA,[7] before pursuing postgraduate studies in Political Theory at New College, Oxford (MPhil).[8]
Career
Ward became a parliamentary researcher after graduating from Oxford and spent 6 years working for Sir Keir Starmer.[5] From 2015, Ward was employed as Starmer's speechwriter and political advisor. Following Starmer's victory in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election, Ward became one of Starmer's closest advisors as part of a group branded by backbencher Labour MPs the "gang of five" which included Morgan McSweeney and Jenny Chapman. Ward went on to become the Deputy Chief of Staff to Starmer before leaving his advisory role in July 2021.[9][10]
After leaving his advisory role, Ward worked for Hanbury Strategy as a director[11] starting in January 2022.[12] Hanbury Strategy is a registered lobbying firm and political and public affairs consultancy agency,[12][13] where he led the section dedicated to the Labour Party.[14] During his time at the company,[15] Hanbury advised clients including Amazon, Deliveroo, Flutter, UBS, Blackstone and Rockhopper[13] among others.[12] During this time, Ward wrote an article for a Conservative political publication The Spectator.[16]
Ward was selected as prospective parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven[17] following the suspension of Lloyd Russell-Moyle from the Labour Party regarding allegations dating back to 2016. According to left-wing political commentator Owen Jones, Ward had expressed an interest in becoming a Member of Parliament in the Brighton area many years previously.[13] The suspension of Russell-Moyle triggered an emergency meeting the next day,[18] immediately following which Ward was announced as Labour's new candidate. More than 200 members of the local Labour Party protested against the method of Ward's selection,[19] and Nancy Platts[20] former Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council questioned the fairness of the process.[21] His Labour general election campaign launch was interrupted by pro-Palestinian activists protesting against the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip,[22] with Ward accused of being a parachute candidate.[19]
Political views
Considered to be on the right of the Labour Party, Ward is a supporter of "Starmerism".[7]
References
- ^ "Members Sworn". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 752. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 10 July 2024.
- ^ "Election Q&A with Chris Ward – the Labour candidate for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven". Brighton and Hove News. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven | General Election 2024". Sky News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Ministerial appointments: September 2025". GOV.UK. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ a b leDuc, Frank (30 May 2024). "Labour announces Brighton Kemptown candidate to replace Lloyd Russell-Moyle". Brighton and Hove News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ a b Booker-Lewis, Sarah (26 June 2024). "Election Q&A with Chris Ward – the Labour candidate for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven". Brighton and Hove News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Chris Ward OFFICE OF THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION". macemagazine.com. Mace Magazine. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ www.compassonline.org.uk
- ^ Stewart, Heather (28 July 2021). "Keir Starmer aide Chris Ward to leave Labour Leader's top team". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ Rodgers, Sienna (28 July 2021). "Another close aide to Keir Starmer goes as Chris Ward set to leave Leader's office". Labour List. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ Cooper, Charlie (7 September 2023). "Labour's Keir Starmer is a green activist to his core". Politico. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Dunn, Will (3 July 2024). "Revealed: the 103 professional lobbyists standing in the 2024 general election". New Statesman. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Smythe, Polly (13 June 2024). "Meet the Labour Candidates Lobbying for Oil, Gas and Arms Companies". Novara Media. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ Lloyd, Will (22 May 2024). "The Labour PR gold rush has begun". New Statesman. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ www.hanburystrategy.com
- ^ "Chris Ward". www.spectator.co.uk. The Spectator. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ www.peacehaventowncouncil.gov.uk
- ^ le Duc, Frank (30 May 2024). "Labour officials call emergency meeting after Brighton Kemptown MP ousted". Brighton and Hove News. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ a b Wadsworth, Jo (3 June 2024). "More than 200 Labour members call on Party to reconsider Kemptown selection". Brighton and Hove News. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ www.campaigncollective.org
- ^ le Duc, Frank (31 May 2024). "Former Council Leader calls for investigation into Brighton Kemptown selection". Brighton and Hove News. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ Wadsworth, Jo (7 June 2024). "Gaza campaigners disrupt new Kemptown Labour candidate's campaign launch". Brighton and Hove News. Retrieved 7 July 2024.