Emma Lewell-Buck

Emma Lewell was born on 8 November 1978 in South Shields, from a family of shipyard workers. She is a descendant of William Wouldhave, the inventor of the lifeboat.{{cite news |title=Emma Lewell-Buck to fight South Shields seat for Labour |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-22104184 |date=11 April 2013 |work=BBC News |access-date=3 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414015648/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-22104184 |archive-date=14 April 2013 |df=dmy-all }}

Lewell attended St Joseph's Catholic Academy in Hebburn. She studied politics and media studies at Northumbria University,{{cite news |last=Swan |first=Kim |date=21 April 2013 |title=Emma Lewell-Buck planning to make South Shields history |url=http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2013/04/12/emma-lewell-buck-planning-to-make-south-shields-history-61634-33158857/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531151213/http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2013/04/12/emma-lewell-buck-planning-to-make-south-shields-history-61634-33158857/ |archive-date=31 May 2013 |access-date=3 May 2013 |newspaper=The Journal |df=dmy-all}} before gaining a master's degree in social work from Durham University.

As a social worker, she specialised in child protection, and later represented the Primrose ward in Jarrow as a South Tyneside councillor from 2004 to 2013.[https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/politics/party-rivals-to-fight-for-primrose-seat-1-5681399 Party rivals to fight for Primrose seat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119174210/https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/politics/party-rivals-to-fight-for-primrose-seat-1-5681399 |date=19 January 2019 }} at shieldsgazette.com, accessed 17 January 2019

Lewell was elected to Parliament as MP for South Shields at the 2013 South Shields by-election with 50.4% of the vote and a majority of 6,505.{{cite news|last1=Pidd|first1=Helen|title=South Shields' Emma Lewell-Buck vows to be 'different sort of MP|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/the-northerner/2013/may/03/emma-lewell-buck-labour-south-shields|access-date=4 April 2015|work=The Guardian|date=3 May 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410101253/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/the-northerner/2013/may/03/emma-lewell-buck-labour-south-shields|archive-date=10 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}[http://www.southtyneside.info/article/18140/South-Shields-by-election South Shields by-election]", South Tyneside Council{{cite web |title=South Shields Constituency – 02 May 2013 Parliamentary By-Election |url=http://www.southtyneside.info/applications/2/elections/Constituency.aspx?id=302 |access-date=3 May 2013 |work=SouthTyneside.info}}{{cite news |date=3 May 2013 |title=South Shields by-election: Labour wins as UKIP makes big gains |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22393094 |access-date=3 May 2013 |publisher=BBC News}}

In June 2013, she became a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee replacing Thomas Docherty.{{cite web|title=Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Committees|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2013-06-10a.128.14&s=Emma+Lewell-Buck#g128.15|publisher=They work for you|date=10 June 2013|access-date=14 June 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410192031/http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2013-06-10a.128.14&s=Emma+Lewell-Buck#g128.15|archive-date=10 April 2015|df=dmy-all}} In October 2013, she was appointed Parliamentary private secretary to Ivan Lewis, Labour's Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary.

During Lewell's election campaign of 2013, she said helping to bring jobs to the unemployed of South Shields was a priority. In November 2013 she organised a jobs fair in her constituency, which was repeated in November 2014 after she pledged to make it into an annual event.{{cite news |date=17 November 2014 |title=South Shields MP hails job fair success |url=http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/south-shields-mp-hails-job-fair-success-1-6956685 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419024340/http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/south-shields-mp-hails-job-fair-success-1-6956685 |archive-date=19 April 2015 |access-date=4 April 2015 |work=Shields Gazette |df=dmy-all}}

Lewell joined the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hunger and Food Poverty chaired by Frank Field and the Bishop of Truro. The group launched an inquiry into the root causes behind hunger, food poverty and the rise in demand of food banks across the UK, and published its final report in the House of Commons on 8 December 2014. After the report Lewell said in Parliament "Food poverty is a clear consequence of the Government's ideological assault on the social safety net and the people who rely on it. One hungry person is a complete disgrace, but thousands of hungry people are a national disaster".{{cite hansard|title=Food Banks|jurisdiction=United Kingdom|house=House of Commons|date=29 November 2017|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm141217/debtext/141217-0003.htm|column_start=1500|column_end=1500|speaker=Emma Lewell-Buck|position=MP for South Shields (Labour)|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225093932/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm141217/debtext/141217-0003.htm|archivedate=25 February 2015|df=dmy-all}}

In December 2014, she claimed that some people were "having to bury their relatives in their back gardens" as she proposed a Funeral Services Bill intended to require funeral providers to offer a low-cost option.{{cite news|title=Funeral cost rise triggers MP's 'garden burials' warning|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30392982|access-date=4 April 2015|work=BBC News|date=9 December 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404091356/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30392982|archive-date=4 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}

At the 2015 general election, Lewell was re-elected as MP for South Shields with an increased vote share of 51.3% and an increased majority of 10,614.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}{{cite news |title=South Shields Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000944 |access-date=31 March 2016 |website=Election 2015 |publisher=BBC News}}

In July 2015, she was elected as a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/membership/|title=Work and Pensions Committee – membership|work=UK Parliament|access-date=26 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924134234/http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/membership/|archive-date=24 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}

In January 2016, Lewell became shadow minister for devolution and local government in Jeremy Corbyn's frontbench reshuffle.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35239232|title=Labour reshuffle: Shadow ministers quit in protest|work=BBC News|date=6 January 2016|access-date=15 March 2021}} On 29 June 2016, she announced her resignation from the post, commenting that she was "heartbroken at the state of the [Labour] Party".{{cite news|last=Mann|first=Sebastian|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/newly-appointed-shadow-education-secretary-pat-glass-quits-after-two-days-a3283871.html|title=Labour's Shadow Education secretary Pat Glass quits after two days|work=Evening Standard|location = London|date=29 June 2016|access-date=25 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629122505/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/newly-appointed-shadow-education-secretary-pat-glass-quits-after-two-days-a3283871.html|archive-date=29 June 2016|df=dmy-all}} This was a reference to a string of shadow cabinet resignations during the summer leadership crisis. She later supported Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 Labour leadership election.{{Cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2016/07/which-mps-and-meps-have-nominated-owen-smith/|title=Full list of MPs and MEPs backing challenger Owen Smith|date=21 July 2016|website=LabourList|author= Pope, Conor|language=en-GB|access-date=16 March 2021}}

In October 2016, she was re-appointed to Jeremy Corbyn's front bench team as Shadow Education Minister responsible for children and families' policy.{{cite web|url=http://schoolsweek.co.uk/labour-reshuffle-rayner-stays-mike-kane-becomes-shadow-schools-minster/|title=Meet Labour's new education team|date=10 October 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017055453/http://schoolsweek.co.uk/labour-reshuffle-rayner-stays-mike-kane-becomes-shadow-schools-minster/|archive-date=17 October 2016|df=dmy-all}} She resigned from this position in March 2019 after voting against a second Brexit referendum in defiance of the Labour whip.{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/three-shadow-ministers-and-labour-whip-rebel-to-vote-against-second-brexit-referendum_uk_5c8a96bbe4b03e83bdbe4684?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADqDxjA6c-tls9mjUtB6cHp0xATO98ygQd-zLsVK4e3ZkP2UPTUMEqjjnDIgEGFAMGoJJEk4hKF8C__CR2CbU8_VznKdgKpjREOzLzb6wjqc_V3CBqD5TMcbGUkOIrAxhc2JdvZVK0MxUz1mSduPPTetwn0RX3DgFpzbrL-L5S_G|title=3 Shadow Ministers Resign Over Vote To Block Second Brexit Referendum|last=Wearmouth|first=Rachel|date=14 March 2019|work=HuffPost|access-date=14 March 2019}}

At the snap 2017 general election, Lewell was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 61.5% and an increased majority of 14,508.{{cite news |title=South Shields |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000944 |access-date=12 June 2017 |publisher=BBC News}}

In November 2017 Lewell introduced a Private Members' Bill (under the Ten Minute Rule), the Food Insecurity Bill, "to require the Government to monitor and report on food insecurity and to make provision for official statistics on food insecurity".{{cite hansard|title=Food Insecurity|jurisdiction=United Kingdom|house=House of Commons|date=29 November 2017|volume=632|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2017-11-29/debates/CBDC9A1F-1EC2-4E68-AB52-6BCF8B92662F/FoodInsecurity#contribution-D9E0C1D1-D623-43B5-B80B-DD4FEB36447E|column_start=363|column_end=365|speaker=Emma Lewell-Buck|position=MP for South Shields (Labour)|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214124652/https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2017-11-29/debates/CBDC9A1F-1EC2-4E68-AB52-6BCF8B92662F/FoodInsecurity#contribution-D9E0C1D1-D623-43B5-B80B-DD4FEB36447E|archivedate=14 December 2017|df=dmy-all}} The bill was passed on 2 February 2018.{{cite web |title=Food Insecurity Bill 2017–19 |url=https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/foodinsecurity.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214124254/https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/foodinsecurity.html |archive-date=14 December 2017 |website=services.parliament.uk/bills |publisher=UK Parliament |df=dmy-all}}

In 2018, Lewell expressed concern about the large number of children in care; there were 75,420 children in care in England in March 2018, a rise of 4% from the year before. She said the rise was due to government cuts to support services like Sure Start, which could help children stay with their families. Lewell said, "The government is missing valuable opportunities to keep children in the care of their families. Not only does that add pressure to budgets already decimated by austerity, it also leaves children and their families with deep and enduring emotional scars".[https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/15/number-of-children-in-care-rises-england Labour blames cuts as number of children in care rises again] The Guardian. 15 November 2018.

In October 2019, local party members voted to trigger a reselection contest. She vowed to fight the contest and branded those who voted against her as "bullies and tricksters".{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Jonathan |title=MP Emma Lewell-Buck vows to fight de-selection threat and brands opponents 'bullies and tricksters' |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/mp-emma-lewell-buck-vows-17051484 |access-date=9 October 2019 |work=Chronicle Live |date=8 October 2019}} Due to the calling of the 2019 general election, the reselection process could not be completed in time and she was re-selected without a local party vote taking place.{{Cite news |date=December 2019 |title=Election 2019: South Shields |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000944 |access-date=14 March 2021}}

Lewell was again re-elected at the 2019 general election, with a decreased vote share of 45.6% and a decreased majority of 9,585.{{cite news |title=South Shields Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000944 |access-date=24 November 2019 |publisher=BBC News}}

Lewell is opposed to COVID-19 vaccine passports and was one of 8 Labour MPs who voted against their introduction as part of the government's 'Plan B' restrictions in December 2021.{{cite news |last1=Sharma |first1=Sonia |date=10 December 2021 |title=South Shields MP says Plan B rules brought in to 'divert attention' from Christmas party scandal |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/south-shields-mp-says-plan-22414839 |access-date=14 December 2021 |work=Chronicle Live}}{{cite web |title=Health Protection (Entry to venues etc) SI No 1416 |url=https://votes.parliament.uk/Votes/Commons/Division/1182#noes |access-date=14 December 2021 |website=UK Parliament}} She was also one of 22 Labour MPs who voted against mandatory vaccination of NHS staff.{{cite web |title=draft Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) (No.2) Regulations 2021 |url=https://votes.parliament.uk/Votes/Commons/Division/1183#noes |access-date=14 December 2021 |website=UK Parliament}}

In November 2022, Emma Lewell became a founder member of the Child of the North APPG; created to address the inequalities facing children across the North of England.{{cite web |title=Child of the North APPG |url=https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/APPG/child-of-the-north}}

At the 2024 general election, Lewell was again re-elected with a decreased vote share of 41.1% and a decreased majority of 6,653.{{Cite web |date=5 July 2024 |title=South Shields Constituency - 04 Jul 2024 Parliamentary Election |url=https://portal.southtyneside.info/elections/Constituency.aspx?id=552 |access-date=12 July 2024 |work=Elections |publisher=South Tyneside Council}}{{cite web |date=5 July 2024 |title=South Shields results |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001492 |access-date=5 July 2024 |publisher=BBC}}

Lewell employed her husband, Simon, as a researcher in 2015 despite his being suspended from his job as a carer and having lost his place on a nursing course in response to allegations of swearing at and neglect of vulnerable adults in his care.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/shadow-minister-emma-lewell-buck-gave-job-to-husband-who-abused-elderly-kxrq53xrl|title=Shadow minister Emma Lewell-Buck gave job to husband who abused elderly|first=David|last=Brown|date=30 March 2018|newspaper=The Times|access-date=1 July 2017|quote=Emma Lewell-Buck employed Simon Buck as a researcher when he was suspended from his job as a carer and lost his place on a nursing course following the allegations of abuse.}} The allegations were upheld.{{cite news|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/labour-mp-claims-husband-been-14452351|title=Labour MP claims her husband has been targeted as council calls him 'perpetrator of elder abuse'|author=Walker, Jonathan|date=24 March 2018|access-date=1 July 2019|work=Evening Chronicle}} However, a watchdog investigation found the local authority had made procedural errors and was asked to pay £400 in compensation to Mr Buck. An independent social worker also reviewed the evidence and found that no abuse had taken place.{{Cite news|title=Exclusive: Husband of South Shields MP branded '˜perpetrator of elder abuse' after care probe|url=https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/exclusive-husband-south-shields-mp-branded-perpetrator-elder-abuse-after-care-probe-313700|work =Shields Gazette|date = 23 March 2018|access-date=4 May 2020}} Several members of her Constituency Labour Party wrote to party leader Jeremy Corbyn to request her suspension owing to their concerns over his playing this role. Mr. Buck was subsequently suspended from the Labour Party, pending investigation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/husband-of-south-shields-mp-suspended-by-labour-party-pending-investigation-1-9123436|title=Husband of South Shields MP suspended by Labour Party pending investigation|work=Shields Gazette|date=19 April 2018|access-date=1 July 2019}}

Lewell was diagnosed with dyspraxia at the age of 27.{{Cite news|last=Rowley|first=Tom|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10341479/Id-love-to-wear-eyeliner-but-that-requires-a-steady-hand.html|title='I'd love to wear eyeliner, but that requires a steady hand'|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=2013-09-28|access-date=2020-04-15|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}} She married Simon Buck in 2012. They separated in 2021.{{cite news|title= South Shields MP Emma Lewell-Buck announces split from her husband|url=https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/politics/council/south-shields-mp-emma-lewell-buck-announces-split-her-husband-1386097|newspaper=Shields Gazette|last=Harrison|first=James|date=5 February 2020}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• {{Official website|https://lewellbuck.com/ }}
• {{UK MP links | parliament = emma-lewell-buck/4277 | publicwhip = emma_lewell-buck | theywork = emma_lewell-buck}}
• [http://www.southtyneside.info/applications/2/councillorsandcommittees/councillorhomepage.aspx?id=44 Emma Lewell-Buck's councillor home page]

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{{S-bef|before=David Miliband}}

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{{Labour Party UK MPs|North East England}}

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Category:1978 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century British women politicians

Category:Alumni of Durham University

Category:Alumni of Northumbria University

Category:Councillors in Tyne and Wear

Category:English social workers

Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies

Category:Labour Party (UK) councillors

Category:Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies

Category:People from South Shields

Category:Politicians from Tyne and Wear

Category:UK MPs 2010–2015

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