Tom Gordon | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Andrew Jones |
| Majority | 8,238 (15.9%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Anthony Gordon Knottingley,West Yorkshire,England |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Alma mater | Newcastle University |
| Website | www |
Thomas Anthony Gordon is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough since 2024.
Thomas Anthony Gordon [1] was born and raised in Knottingley. [2] He received a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in biochemistry at Newcastle University. He went on to study for a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree also at Newcastle,which he completed part-time due to his mother's battle with breast cancer,which he says inspired his entry into politics. [3] His mother,Adele Hayes,is a councillor for Knottingley on Wakefield Council.
Before entering Parliament,Gordon worked in the scientific recruitment and health services research sector, [3] as well as policy roles in the charitable sector,including for the Carers Trust,and as a researcher for a member of the European Parliament.
While at university,he was elected as a councillor for Manor Park on Newcastle City Council in 2018,serving for one year. Afterwards,he returned to Knottingley after taking a job at the University of York and stood for election in Knottingley on Wakefield Council,achieving a 54.2% swing from Labour and becoming the first Liberal Democrat elected to Wakefield Council since 2011. [4]
He was chosen as the Liberal Democrats' candidate for the 2021 Batley and Spen by-election,after the initial candidate Jo Conchie withdrew due to health reasons. [5] He had previously stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Normanton,Pontefract and Castleford at the 2019 general election. [6] Gordon was chosen as the party's candidate for the constituency of Harrogate and Knaresborough, [7] which he won with 23,976 votes (46.1 per cent) at the 2024 general election. [8]
Following his election he joined the Science,Innovation and Technology Select Committee. [9]
Gordon supported Kim Leadbeater's bill introducing assisted suicide into law and served on the committee examining the legislation. [10] On 6 February 2025,Gordon proposed an amendment to the bill to increase the franchise for assisted suicide such that people with neurological illnesses can request assisted suicide with a 12 month prognosis instead of the 6 month prognosis proposed in the original bill. [11]
Gordon is gay. [12] He is also a keen badminton player and runner,regularly participating in Parkrun events, [2] [13] and had completed more than a dozen long distance charity runs as of 2024 [update] ,including marathons in Paris and Berlin,to raise money for charity. [14]
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