Meet Stoke-on-Trent's three new Labour MPs
For the first time since the 1960s, Stoke-on-Trent has emerged from a general election with three new MPs.
Labour won all three parliamentary seats in the Potteries in last week's general election, each of which had been won by the Conservatives in 2019.
Jonathan Gullis and Jack Brereton were defeated in Stoke-on-Trent North and South respectively, while Jo Gideon, the Tory incumbent in Stoke-on-Trent Central, chose not to stand for re-election.
The last time Stoke-on-Trent voters elected a set of three completely different MPs was in 1966, when Robert Cant, John Forrester and Jack Ashley all replaced their retiring Labour predecessors.
So who are Stoke-on-Trent's three new Labour MPs?
Gareth Snell – Stoke-on-Trent Central
Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell is not entirely new – he previously served as the constituency's MP between 2017 and 2019. Originally from Suffolk, Mr Snell came to North Staffordshire to study history and politics at Keele University in 2004.
In 2010, he was elected as a Newcastle borough councillor, representing Knutton and Silverdale, and just two years later he became leader of the authority. But just two years after that – and in what would become a running theme in his rollercoaster political career – Mr Snell lost his borough council seat, a year after failing to win a county council seat, losing to Ukip candidates on both occasions.
Mr Snell was elected back onto the borough council in 2016, and in 2017 he was selected as Labour's candidate for the much-anticipated Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election. The by-election was called after Labour MP Tristram Hunt stood down, and coming just a year after the EU referendum, the contest was portrayed as a battle for the Brexit capital of Britain, with Ukip leader Paul Nuttall expected to make a strong challenge in the Labour stronghold, perhaps heralding a major shift in British politics.
But in the end, Mr Snell won the by-election relatively comfortably, and went on to successfully defend his seat in the general election later that year. Mr Snell's first stint as an MP was short-lived, however, as he went on to lose his seat to Conservative Jo Gideon in one of the most surprising results in the 2019 general election.
Having now won back his old seat in Thursday's general election, Mr Snell is now likely to remain in his current position for at least the next five years.
David Williams – Stoke-on-Trent North
As is fairly common in British politics, David Williams has been elected as an MP while still serving as a local councillor. Mr Williams has been the Stoke-on-Trent city councillor for Little Chell and Stanfield since 2019, having won re-election to the post last May.
Up until the general election was called, he had also served as the city council's cabinet member for safe and resilient communities, but stood down to focus on the campaign. This was the second time Mr Williams has stood for election to Parliament. In the 2017 general election he was Labour's candidate in Stafford. While he managed to reduce Tory incumbent Jeremy Lefroy's majority, he still finished comfortably behind his Conservative opponent.
Outside of politics, Mr Williams works as the director of business development at YMCA North Staffordshire, having previously worked as a programme manager in the NHS. Like his fellow Stoke-on-Trent Labour MP Gareth Snell, Mr Williams is a graduate of Keele University.
Allison Gardner – Stoke-on-Trent South
Allison Gardner is the first female MP to represent Stoke-on-Trent South since the seat was created in 1950. She had previously served as a Newcastle borough councillor for Crackley and Red Street, between 2016 and 2022.
The University of Manchester graduate is an expert in AI and data ethics, and most recently has been working for the AI Multi-Agency Advisory Service, advising the National Institution for Health and Care Excellence on AI regulatory policy.
Dr Gardner is an honorary research fellow at Keele University, having previously worked as programme director there, and is a co-founder of Woman Leading in AI. Prior to that she worked as a science teacher in secondary schools for 25 years.
She describes herself as a 'military baby', having been born in Singapore, where her father was stationed while serving in the navy.
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READ MORE: Deep dive on Stoke-on-Trent election results
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