The party’s Labour Digital movement has namechecked election candidates that it believes share its vision of taking advantage of technology’s potential benefits, while recognising the need to regulate its risks
The Labour Digital movement has picked out and endorsed 40 candidates standing at the upcoming general election who are cited as the party’s leading advocates of technology-powered transformation.
The group has also announced a new chair: Alex Davies-Jones, who has served as MP for Pontypridd since 2019. She replaces Bristol North West MP – and founder of Labour Digital – Darren Jones.
The two politicians, who are both standing for re-election, are among 40 candidates that are formally supported by the group – which, on its website, says that it exists to tap into the potential of technology, while also understanding and tackling the risks it creates.
“We believe that technology holds the answer to fixing our unproductive economy, to solving global challenges like climate change and to transforming our public services to become more efficient for tax payers and more effective for users,” it says. “But it’s also clear that, unregulated, technology can have negative or unintended consequences. From the anti-competitive impact of global tech giants and the need to change rules on taxation, to ensure wealth is equally distributed and workers continue to have meaningful and well paid jobs. The state must play an important role in getting the balance right.”
Posting yesterday on X – formerly known as Twitter – the group listed alongside its founder and chair 38 other prospective MPs it believes share Labour Digital’s vision:
- Claire Hughes, Bangor Aberconwy
- Emma Reynolds, Wycombe
- Katie White, Leeds North West
- Andrew Pakes, Peterborough
- Kanishka Narayan, Vale of Glamorgan
- Andrew Cooper, Cheshire Mid
- Lucy Rigby, Northampton North
- Rachel Blake, Cities of London & Westminster
- Jake Richards, Rother Valley
- Chi Onwurah, Newcastle upon Tyne Central & West
- Matt Rodda, Reading Central
- Chris Evans, Caerphilly
- Chris Bryant, Rhondda
- Tom Rutland, Worthing East & Shoreham
- Martha O’Neil, Caerfyrddin
- Claire Hazelgrove, Filton & Bradley Stoke
- Gordon McKee, Glasgow South
- Luke Charters, York Outer
- Louise Jones, North East Derbyshire
- Dan Aldridge, Weston-super-Mare
- Allison Gardner, Stoke-on-Trent South
- Steve Yemm, Mansfield
- Alan Gemmell, Central Ayrshire
- Praful Nargund, Islington North
- Thangam Debbonaire, Bristol Central
- Peter Kyle, Hove
- Lewis Bailey, Tonbridge
- Daniel Shearer, Eastleigh
- Sarah Gillinson, Guildford
- Steve Race, Exeter
- Chris McDonald, Stockton North
- Rajesh Agrawal, Leicester East
- Liam Conlon, Beckenham & Penge
- Yuan Yang, Earley & Woodley
- Sophia Adams Bhatti, St Albans
- Sasjkia Otto, New Forest East
- Devina Paul, Hamble Valley
- Samantha Niblett, South Derbyshire
Among these candidates are three members of the incumbent shadow cabinet: culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire; science, innovation, and technology secretary Peter Kyle; and Darren Jones – who is Labour’s prospective chief secretary to the Treasury.
Several others on the 40-strong list also have shadow ministerial briefs, including prospective minister for AI Matt Rodda, digital economy minister Chirs Evans, research and innovation minister Chi Onwurah, and creative and digital minister Chris Bryant. Alex Davies-Jones, meanwhile, is shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding.
“At Labour Digital, we want a Labour movement that harnesses the power of technology to empower people, transform society and grow our economy”, the organisation said on X. “Today we’re pleased to endorse 40 Labour candidates that we believe endorse this goal. Why are we doing this? We want a Labour government that understands technology and its transformative potential, and these 40 candidates get this. For activists and Labour members involved with Labour Digital across the country, these are our champions.”
As of today, all existing MPs formally vacate their roles and become parliamentary candidates. The general election will take place on Thursday 4 July.
