Lauren Edwards | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament forRochester and Strood | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Kelly Tolhurst |
| Majority | 2,293 (5.4%) |
| Member ofMedway Council for Rochester East and Warren Wood Rochester East (2021–2023) | |
| In office 16 December 2021 – 16 December 2024[1] | |
| Preceded by | Nick Bowler |
| Succeeded by | David Finch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lauren Rae Edwards Altona, Victoria, Australia |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | University of Adelaide London School of Economics |
Lauren Rae Edwards is an Australian-born BritishLabour Party politician who has served as theMember of Parliament forRochester and Strood since2024.[2]
Edwards was born inAltona,Melbourne, Australia, and was educated at theUniversity of Adelaide before moving to the UK in 2005 to study for a master's at theLondon School of Economics.[3][4] Lauren has cited the "hope and optimism" prevalent in the United Kingdom during the early 2000s - characterised by the cultural and political climate shaped by New Labour, Britpop, and the 'Cool Britannia' movement - as a key factor in her decision to relocate to the UK.[5]
Edwards worked as a parliamentary researcher for a number of Labour MPs includingBarbara Keeley,Teresa Pearce andLisa Nandy from 2008 to 2013.[6][7] During this time she was Political Officer forUnite the Union's Parliamentary Staff Branch.[8] From 2013 to 2016 she worked as a researcher at the postal section of theCommunication Workers Union.[9]
Edwards worked at theBank of England before her selection as a parliamentary candidate, as a manager in financial regulation including a secondment toHM Treasury for about six months working onBrexit related legislation.[3]
Edwards has an English-born mother and holds British citizenship.[3]
In 2021, Edwards was elected toMedway Council in a by-election from Rochester East ward.[10] She was cabinet member for economic and social regeneration and inward investment.[11]
In 2024, she defeated incumbentConservative MPKelly Tolhurst to gain Rochester and Strood.
On 8 August 2024, Edwards issued an apology onTwitter following the emergence of tweets she wrote between 2009 and 2011 in which she used offensive language, described byThe Guardian as a "series of 'racist' tweets", stating it was a "significant error of judgement".[12][13]
In November 2024, Edwards voted in favour of theTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which proposes to legaliseassisted suicide.[14][non-primary source needed] In a statement following the Third Reading, Edwards said: "I believe this Bill is one of the most important, compassionate, and empowering changes to healthcare we've seen in a generation. I want to be clear: this Bill is about choice. This choice does not replace hospice or palliative care."[15]
Prior to the Second Reading of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, Edwards signed a reasoned amendment opposing the legislation. She cited concerns over proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility, stating that she could not support the bill in its original form due to the implications for passported benefits such as Carer’s Allowance.[16]
Following the Government’s announcement of additional investment to support people into work, and the removal of Clause 5 – which contained the proposed changes to PIP eligibility – Edwards voted in favour of the bill.[17][non-primary source needed]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forRochester and Strood 2024–present | Incumbent |
