Peter Swallow

Last updated

Peter Swallow
MP
Peter Swallow.jpg
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for Bracknell
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 July 2024

Peter Swallow (born 1993) is a British classicist, academic and politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bracknell since 2024. Before his election, he was a postdoctoral researcher specialising in the study of Aristotle. [1] He is the first Labour Party MP for Bracknell.

Contents

Early life and education

Swallow was born in Wokingham and grew up in Crowthorne. [2] He studied classics at university, graduating with an undergraduate Master of Arts (MA Hons) degree from the University of St Andrews and a Master of Studies (MSt) degree from St Hilda's College, Oxford. [3] He undertook a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at King's College London, which he completed in 2020 with a doctoral thesis titled "The reception of Aristophanes in Britain during the long-Nineteenth century". [4]

He is the author of Aristophanes in Britain: Old Comedy in the Nineteenth Century (Oxford University Press, 2023). [5] He co-edited Aristophanic Humour: Theory and Practice (Bloomsbury Academic, 2020) with Edith Hall. [6]

Prior to entering politics, Swallow held a postdoctoral position as Nomikos Research Associate at King's College London. [5]

According to Bracknell News , "Since 2017 he has worked with the Advocating Classics Education project, which expands access to classical education in schools. He is particularly interested in supporting greater provision for special education needs." [7]

Political career

At the 2024 general election, Swallow was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bracknell with 14,783 votes (33.7%) and a majority of 784. [8] Bracknell had previously only ever elected Conservative Party MPs; Swallow defeated James Sunderland. On the floor of the House of Commons, Swallow made his maiden speech in February 2025, describing it as “the honour of my life." [9]

Swallow currently serves on several joint and Commons committees. This includes the Human Rights (Joint Committee); the Court of Referees; and the Norwich Livestock Market Bill [House of Lords] Committee. [10] Previously, he was a member of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [HL] Committee. [10]

He currently chairs the All‑Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Classics and serves as Vice‑Chair of the APPG for the South East, reflecting his dual interests in heritage education and regional advocacy. [10] He is also Chair of the APPGs on Schools, Learning and Assessment and Social Mobility.

In June 2025, he secured a House of Commons Adjournment Debate focused on street parking on residential estates in Bracknell Forest. [11]

In the same month, Swallow voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which proposes to legalise assisted suicide. [10]

Personal life

Swallow is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. [12]

Electoral history

General election 2024: Bracknell [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Peter Swallow 14,783 33.7 8.3
Conservative James Sunderland 13,99931.9−23.6
Reform UK Malcolm Tullett7,44517.0New
Liberal Democrats Katie Mansfield4,76810.9−3.1
Green Emily Torode2,1664.90.9
Independent Olivio Barreto4801.1−0.1
Heritage Jason Reardon1960.4New
Turnout 43,83761%

References

  1. ↑ "Staff Profile: Dr Peter Swallow" . Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  2. ↑ Lucas, Ruth (9 July 2024). "Meet Bracknell's new Labour MP, Peter Swallow". Bracknell News. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  3. ↑ "Mr Peter Swallow". King's College London. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  4. ↑ Swallow, Peter (2020). The reception of Aristophanes in Britain during the long-Nineteenth century (PhD thesis). King's College London. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  5. 1 2 Swallow, Peter (11 September 2023). Aristophanes in Britain: Old Comedy in the Nineteenth Century. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN   9780192868565 . Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  6. ↑ Swallow, Peter; Hall, Edith, eds. (9 July 2020). Aristophanic Humour: Theory and Practice (1st ed.). London: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN   9781350101524 . Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  7. ↑ "Meet Bracknell's new Labour MP, Peter Swallow". Bracknell News. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  8. ↑ "Bracknell – General election results 2024". BBC News. July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  9. ↑ "Peter Swallow - All DFID Debates". www.parallelparliament.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Parliamentary career for Peter Swallow - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament". members.parliament.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  11. ↑ "Street Parking on Estates: Bracknell Forest - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  12. ↑ "Peter Swallow MP". LGBT+ Members of Parliament. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  13. ↑ "Bracknell results". BBC News. 5 July 2024.
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