Jessica Toale
British Labour Party politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jessica Jade Toale (born May 1986, Southampton)[1] is a British Labour Party politician serving as Member of Parliament (MP) for Bournemouth West since 2024.[2]
Jessica Toale | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament for Bournemouth West | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Conor Burns |
| Majority | 3,224 (8.2%) |
| Member of Westminster City Council for West End | |
| In office 5 May 2022 – 20 August 2024 | |
| Succeeded by | Tim Barnes |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Labour |
Career
Toale attended the University of York, graduating with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. She went on to do a master's degree in Urbanisation and Development at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Toale has worked as a foreign affairs and international development adviser to numerous organisations.[citation needed] She was a political advisor to Labour MP Ivan Lewis from 2011 to 2013, in his role as Shadow Secretary of State for International Development and later Northern Ireland.[3] Toale co-founded the Labour Foreign Policy Group in 2020.[4] In 2016, she was on the Labour shortlist for candidates in the 2016 Richmond Park by-election.[5] She was previously a member of the Young Fabians executive committee.[6]
She was elected as a Member of Westminster City Council for West End in 2022,[7] and subsequently appointed Deputy Cabinet Member for Culture, Heritage and the Arts.[8]
Toale was elected as MP for Bournemouth West at the 2024 general election, defeating incumbent Conor Burns to become its first non-Conservative representative. She had previously contested the Labour candidacy for the 2016 Richmond Park by-election without success.[9] On 20 August 2024, she resigned her seat on Westminster City Council.[10] On 20 September 2024, the local by-election for her vacated council seat was won by Conservative candidate Tim Barnes.[11]
In the Starmer ministry, Toale serves as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.[12]
Political opinions
Toale supports allowing Votes at 16.[13]
