Chris Elmore
Welsh politician (born 1983)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christopher Philip James Elmore (born 23 December 1983)[2] is a Welsh Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bridgend since 2024, previously Ogmore, since 2016. He is Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office since September 2025 and was formerly Comptroller of the Household (Government Whip) between July 2024 and September 2025.[3]
Christopher Elmore[1] | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2019 | |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Multilateral, Human Rights, Latin America and the Caribbean | |
| Assumed office 7 September 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Comptroller of the Household | |
| In office 10 July 2024 – 7 September 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Rebecca Harris |
| Succeeded by | Nesil Caliskan |
| Shadow Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure | |
| In office 4 December 2021 – 22 July 2022 | |
| Leader | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Stephanie Peacock |
| Shadow Minister for Scotland | |
| In office 9 April 2020 – 4 December 2021 | |
| Leader | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Paul Sweeney |
| Succeeded by | Liz Twist |
| Member of Parliament | |
| Assumed office 5 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Huw Irranca-Davies |
| Constituency | Ogmore (2016–2024) Bridgend (2024–present) |
| Majority | 8,595 (20.8%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Christopher Philip James Elmore 23 December 1983[2] Newport, Wales |
| Party | Labour |
| Alma mater | Cardiff Metropolitan University |
| Website | Official website  |
Early life and career
Christopher Elmore was born on 23 December 1983 in Newport and lived in Brynmawr and Caerphilly as a child.[4]
He started his working life as a trainee butcher and later attended Cardiff Metropolitan University completing a degree in History and Culture in 2005. Elmore then worked in a number of professions including further education.[5]
In 2008, Elmore was elected as a councillor for Casteland in the Vale of Glamorgan Council. Later he was appointed as a cabinet member for children's services and schools.[6]
Parliamentary career
Elmore stood as the Labour candidate in Vale of Glamorgan at the 2015 general election, coming second with 32.6% of the vote behind the incumbent Conservative MP Alun Cairns.[7][8][9]
At the 2016 Ogmore by-election, Elmore was elected to Parliament as MP for Ogmore with 52.6% of the vote and a majority of 8,575.[10]
In June 2016, Elmore joined the Justice Select Committee; he joined the Welsh Affairs Select Committee the following month.[11] In October 2016, he was appointed to the frontbench position of Opposition whip.[12]
He supported Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 Labour Party leadership election.[13]
While an MP, Elmore has particularly focused on issues that impact young people, often speaking in parliament and elsewhere on the subject.[14] Youth engagement was an issue on which Elmore had previously campaigned as a councillor.[15]
At the 2017 general election, Elmore was re-elected as MP for Ogmore with an increased vote share of 62.4% and an increased majority of 13,871.[16][17][18]
In 2017, Elmore was elected as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Rail in Wales.[19] He has been a vocal opponent of the government's 2017 decision to cancel the planned electrification of the Great Western Mainline between Cardiff and Swansea. He has campaigned on issues including passenger safety.[20]
Elmore was re-elected at the 2019 general election, with a decreased vote share of 49.7% and a decreased majority of 7,805.[21][22]
In April 2020, Elmore was made Shadow Minister for Scotland by new Labour Party leader Keir Starmer. In this role he supported Ian Murray, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland. He was also made a senior Opposition whip as a Shadow Lord Commissioner of HM Household.[23][24]
Elmore is a member of Labour Friends of Israel.[25]
Due to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, Elmore's constituency of Ogmore was abolished, and its southern part transferred to Bridgend.[26] At the 2024 general election, Elmore was elected to Parliament as MP for Bridgend with 39.9% of the vote and a majority of 8,595.[27]
In November 2024, Elmore voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which proposes to legalise assisted suicide.[28]
As of May 2025, Elmore has been the appointed proxy voter for Dan Norris, the Labour MP for North East Somerset and Hanham.[29] This followed Norris being banned from the Parliamentary Estate, after being arrested on suspicion of rape, child sex offences, child abduction and misconduct in a public office in April 2025.[29]
