Sir Keir Starmer has assembled a group of young candidates, many in their twenties and thirties, some of whom still live with their parents. This new generation, born after May 1987, has never seen a Labour government in power. They are now eager to represent their peers in the Commons and bring fresh perspectives to the table on July 4.
While the very youngest candidates are often chosen for the more challenging seats, those slightly older have better chances of winning and may significantly influence politics in a Starmer government. Keir Mather, who became the youngest MP or "Baby of the House" at 25 after winning Selby and Ainsty last year, exemplifies this shift. He succeeded Nadia Whittome, who, at 27, is also seeking re-election. Among the youngest Labour candidates this year are Sam Carling, Issy Waite, Georgia Meadows, and Jacob Cousens, all poised to bring fresh perspectives to Parliament.
MPs are getting younger as the job becomes less appealing to older individuals, with increased scrutiny on second jobs and expenses. While the £90,000 salary is attractive to professionals in their thirties, figures like Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid earn much more outside politics. This demographic shift is further highlighted by the Tories' strategy of targeting older voters with promises to restore national service, protect pensions, and criticise “woke” culture. Parties like Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and even Labour focus on this demographic due to the UK's ageing population and higher voter turnout among the elderly. Encouraging more young people to stand for election is crucial to boosting youth voter engagement.
Councillor Praful Nargund is Labour’s candidate for Islington North, challenging the independent incumbent Jeremy Corbyn, who has held the seat since 1983 and enjoys strong local support. Nargund, director of Create Impact Ventures and former CEO of ABC IVF and managing director of Create Fertility, has a law degree from the University of Oxford. Meanwhile, Zarah Sultana, a rare left-winger in Starmer’s Labour, is running for re-election as the Parliamentary Candidate for Coventry South again at just 30 years old. She is also chair of the Socialist Campaign Group parliamentary caucus.
