Tom Gordon (British politician)

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 for 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.^[14]