Samantha Dixon | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2022 | |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Building Safety, Fire and Local Growth | |
| Assumed office 6 September 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Alex Norris |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | |
| In office 10 July 2024 – 6 September 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Stuart Anderson |
| Succeeded by | Lilian Greenwood |
| Member of Parliament forChester North and Neston City of Chester (2022–2024) | |
| Assumed office 1 December 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Chris Matheson |
| Majority | 11,870 (26.6%) |
| Leader ofCheshire West and Chester Council | |
| In office 21 May 2015 – 21 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Jones |
| Succeeded by | Louise Gittins |
| Member ofCheshire West and Chester Council | |
| In office 5 May 2011 – 4 May 2023 | |
| Ward | Chester City and the Garden Quarter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Samantha Kate Georgeson |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | University of Sheffield (BA) |
| Website | Official website |
Samantha Kate DixonMBE (néeGeorgeson, born 23 September 1965) is a British politician who serves asMember of Parliament (MP) forChester North and Neston. She sat for the predecessor seat ofCity of Chester from a2022 by-election until the seat's abolition at the2024 general election.[1] A member of theLabour Party, she was Leader ofCheshire West and Chester Council from 2015 to 2019.[2] She has served as aParliamentary Under-Secretary of State in theMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government since 2025.[3]
Samantha Kate Georgeson was born on the 23rd of September, 1965 inReading,Berkshire.[4] Her family moved toChester when she was four-years-old, and she has livedHoole andUpton-by-Chester. She was educated atChristleton High School.[5][6]
Dixon received aBachelor of Arts in English literature fromUniversity of Sheffield in 1987. She worked forSotheby's as a senior press officer from 1989 to 1997.[7]
Dixon was first elected toCheshire West and Chester Council in2011, representing Chester City and the Garden Quarter ward.[8] She was re-elected in2015 and2019, but didn't seek election in2023.[9]
Labour won control of the council in 2015, and she was subsequently elected to become its first woman leader.[10][11][2][12] She stood down as leader after the 2019 local elections, when Labour retained the council leadership but lost their majority.[2][13][14]
Dixon was appointed aMember of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the2022 Birthday Honours for 'political service'.[15][16]
In October 2022, Dixon was selected as the Labour candidate for theCity of Chester by-election.[17] The by-election was triggered after the resignation of incumbent Labour MPChris Matheson.[18] One of her campaign pledges was to make the historicChester Rows aWorld Heritage Site.[19]
The by-election itself saw nine candidates, with 28,541 votes in total and a turnout of 41.2% of the local electorate. Dixon won with 60.8% of the vote, 17,309 votes, and a majority of 10,974.[20] After her victory she said she would "fight Chester's corner" inWestminster.[21]
She was sworn into the House of Commons on 5 December,[22] and was welcomed to Parliament on 7 December byKeir Starmer and Labour MPs.[23] She was also the first Member of Parliament elected during the reign ofCharles III.
Dixon was appointedParliamentary Private Secretary toRachel Reeves in February 2023.[24] She was promoted to become an oppositionwhip in September of the same year.[25] In April 2024, a man was found guilty of the stalking and harassment of Dixon.[26]
Dixon stood in the new constituency ofChester North and Neston in the2024 general election,[27] and she was elected.[28] Following the election, she was appointed a Government Whip (Vice-Chamberlain of the Household). On 17 July 2024, she was ceremonially "taken hostage" during the2024 State Opening of Parliament.[29]
In November 2024, Dixon voted in favour of theTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which proposes to legaliseassisted suicide.[30]
Dixon is married to Nicholas and has three children.[31] Her recreations includeknitting.[6]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forCity of Chester 2022–2024 | Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament forChester North and Neston 2024–present | Incumbent |
