Jen Craft

{{Use British English|date=July 2024}}{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Jen Craft

| office = Member of Parliament
for Thurrock

| predecessor = Jackie Doyle-Price

| party = Labour

| birth_place = Orsett, Thurrock, Essex, England

| spouse = Alastair Craft

| residence = Grays, Essex, England

| education = Grays Convent High School
Palmer's College University of Leicester

| term_start = 4 July 2024

| honorific_suffix = MP

| majority = 6,474 (17.2%)

| website = {{URL|https://www.jencraft4thurrock.com/}}

| image = Official portrait of Jen Craft MP crop 2.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2024

| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|39|2025|04|27}}

}}

Jennifer Craft{{Cite web |date=2 May 2019 |title=Election results for Stifford Clays: Borough Council Elections - Thursday, 2nd May, 2019 |url=https://democracy.thurrock.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=409&RPID=0 |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Thurrock Council}} (born {{Birth based on age as of date|39|2025|04|27|noage=y}}) is a British Labour Party politician and former civil servant who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Thurrock since 2024.

Early life and career

Craft was born in 1985 or 1986{{Cite news |last=Church |first=Sophie |date=27 April 2025 |title="It's A Language, A Culture": Labour MP Jen Craft On Using Sign Language In Parliament |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/its-language-culture-labour-mp-jen-craft-using-sign-language-parliament |access-date=17 May 2025 |work=Politics Home}} at Orsett Hospital in Orsett, Thurrock, England. She grew up in Grays, Thurrock{{Cite news |last=Elgot |first=Jessica |date=20 June 2024 |title='We are backing ourselves': Labour aims to turn tide on Tories in Essex |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/20/labour-aims-to-turn-tide-on-tories-in-essex-southend-grays-basildon-election |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=The Guardian}} and was educated at Grays Convent High School and Palmer's College.{{Cite news |last=Speight |first=Neil |date=31 October 2022 |title=Home town girl Jen tells of her pride at being selected for parliamentary battle |url=https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/home-town-girl-jen-tells-of-her-pride-at-being-selected-for-parliamentary-battle-156833 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=Thurrock Nub News}}{{Cite news |last=Day-Parker |first=Jessica |date=6 July 2024 |title=General Election: South Essex new Members of Parliament |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/24434937.general-election-south-essex-new-members-parliament/ |access-date=7 July 2024 |work=Basildon Canvey and Southend Echo}} She studied politics and history at university.{{Cite web |date=23 February 2023 |title=Interview: Jen Craft |url=https://centenaryaction.org.uk/candidates-stories/jen-craft/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Centenary Action}} Before entering politics, she worked as a civil servant. She left the civil service to look after one of her children who has Down syndrome.

In an interview from 2023, Craft said her interest in politics was inspired by her mother, a GMB shop steward, and her children. A member of the Labour Party, she was Labour MP Margaret Hodge's campaign manager in the 2010 general election, managing her campaign to defeat the British National Party in the constituency of Barking.{{Cite news |last=Neame |first=Katie |date=31 October 2022 |title=Three Labour parliamentary candidates selected over the weekend |url=https://labourlist.org/2022/10/three-labour-parliamentary-candidates-selected-over-the-weekend/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=LabourList}} In the 2019 Thurrock Council election, she stood as the Labour candidate for the ward of Stifford Clays. She came in second place behind Jennifer Smith of the Thurrock Independents by 188 votes.

Member of Parliament

File:Jen Craft 2024.jpg during Prime Minister's Questions, 16 October 2024]]

In 2022, Craft was selected as the Labour Party's prospective parliamentary candidate for the constituency of Thurrock. She was chosen in a ballot of local party members, beating Thurrock Council Labour leader John Kent, former Basildon Council Labour leader Jack Ferguson and Ealing Council member Miriam Rice.{{Cite news |last=Neame |first=Katie |date=17 October 2022 |title=Four make shortlist in Thurrock parliamentary candidate selection |url=https://labourlist.org/2022/10/four-make-shortlist-in-thurrock-parliamentary-candidate-selection/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=LabourList}} She was convinced to run by her husband Alastair and applied for financial support from the organisation MotheRed to support her bid to become Labour's candidate in the seat. Her bid was supported by former Thurrock Council Labour leader Jane Pothecary, former Thurrock mayor Carl Morris and John Biggs, the former mayor of Tower Hamlets. She was also endorsed by several trade unions, including GMB, Community and USDAW.{{Cite news |last=Speight |first=Neil |date=29 October 2022 |title=Labour select new candidate for general election in Thurrock |url=https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/labour-select-new-candidate-for-general-election-in-thurrock-156618 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=Thurrock Nub News}}

After Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the 2024 general election in May 2024, Craft said it was an opportunity for Labour to "unleash a decade of national renewal". She criticised the Conservative Party for presiding over the bankruptcy of Thurrock Council, which she said reflected the national situation under Sunak's Conservative government. Although optimistic, Craft warned that the election was "not a foregone conclusion" and pledged to "work hard for every single vote until the polls close" on election day.{{Cite news |date=24 May 2024 |title=Labour's candidate says election is a 'chance for renewal' |url=https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/labours-candidate-says-election-is-a-chance-for-renewal-230625 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=Thurrock Nub News}} In the same month, she launched the party's six pledges for the election with Labour leader Keir Starmer.{{Cite news |last=Speight |first=Neil |date=16 May 2024 |title=Labour leader takes his message to Thurrock residents |url=https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/labour-leader-takes-his-message-to-thurrock-residents-229878 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=Thurrock Nub News}} In June, she was endorsed by Ross Kemp.{{Cite news |last=Whitehouse |first=Ellis |date=28 June 2024 |title=EastEnders star Ross Kemp spotted at Thurrock pub pulling pints |url=https://www.essexlive.news/news/celebs-tv/eastenders-star-ross-kemp-spotted-9374769 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=EssexLive}} In that month, she campaigned in the constituency with Starmer and Labour frontbenchers Liz Kendall and Yvette Cooper.

At the general election on 4 July 2024, she defeated the incumbent Conservative MP Jackie Doyle-Price with 16,050 votes and was elected the new MP for Thurrock with a majority of 6,474 votes, or 17.2%, over Reform UK candidate Sophie Preston-Hall.{{Cite news |last=Adams |first=Lewis |date=5 July 2024 |others=Edited by Charlie Jones |title=Labour gains Thurrock from the Conservatives |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c99wrny5y84t?post=asset%3A69bae695-8910-47d5-8337-edcf8db5ef78#post |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=BBC News}}{{Cite news |last=Lynne |first=Freddie |date=5 July 2024 |title=RESULT: Thurrock turns red |url=https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/general-election-2024-live-updates-9367336?utm_source=linkCopy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar#entry1541728 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=EssexLive}}{{Cite news |last1=Amos |first1=Owen |last2=Hancock |first2=Sam |date=5 July 2024 |title=Labour gains Thurrock from the Conservatives |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn09xn9je7lt?post=asset%3Ae6338559-4ff7-4e26-a7db-f3da7db1d705#post |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=BBC News}}{{Cite news |date=5 July 2024 |title=Latest General Election results for Essex - every constituency result as it happens |url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2024-07-04/essexs-general-election-results-as-they-happen |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=ITV News}} Her election made her one of at least three disabled MPs who were first elected in 2024, alongside Labour MP Marie Tidball and Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling.{{Cite news |last=Pring |first=John |date=11 July 2024 |title=Trio of new disabled MPs join House of Commons |url=https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/trio-of-new-disabled-mps-join-house-of-commons/ |access-date=12 July 2024 |work=Disability News Service}} She was sworn in to Parliament on 11 July 2024{{Cite journal |date=11 July 2024 |title=Members Sworn |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2024-07-11/debates/9E3094E5-9E75-4901-8B79-7554EB3C9EB4/details |journal=Hansard |volume=752 |access-date=13 July 2024}} and made her maiden speech on 4 September 2024.{{Cite news |date=4 September 2024 |title=Thurrock MP Jennifer Craft makes her maiden speech in House of Commons |url=https://www.yourthurrock.com/2024/09/04/thurrock-mp-jennifer-craft-makes-her-maiden-speech-in-house-of-commons/ |access-date=5 September 2024 |work=Your Thurrock}}{{Cite news |date=4 September 2024 |title=Thurrock MP pledges to champion borough and families with special educational needs |url=https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/thurrock-mp-pledges-to-champion-borough-and-families-with-special-educational-needs-239194 |access-date=6 September 2024 |work=Thurrock Nub News}}

Personal life

Craft lives in Grays with her family. Her husband is Alastair Craft, a consultant and Labour member who stood for the party in the 2024 Thurrock Council election.{{Cite news |last=Owen |first=Jonathan |date=22 August 2024 |title=More MPs have relatives who lobby |url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1885820/mps-relatives-lobby |access-date=24 August 2024 |work=PR Week}} She is disabled, describing herself as having "long term mental health issues" in an interview from 2023, and is also a full-time caregiver for one of her children who has Down syndrome. She has obsessive–compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder, having been diagnosed with both by her 20s.{{Cite journal |date=19 May 2025 |title=Mental Health Bill [Lords] |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025-05-19/debates/0387FE6C-94AB-4BD2-B9C6-A8079589C265/details#contribution-D9D0BA89-AB5B-4C41-BFD2-F57226AE4F8F |journal=Hansard |volume=767 |access-date=21 May 2025}}{{Cite news |last=Adams |first=Lewis |date=21 May 2025 |title=MP criticises 'patronising' mental health care |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7877e0xx48o |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=BBC News}}