Lewis Atkinson

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Lewis Atkinson

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MP}}

| parliament = United Kingdom

| constituency_MP = Sunderland Central

| term_start = 4 July 2024

| term_end =

| predecessor = Julie Elliott

| successor =

| majority = 6,073 (15.2%)

| birth_name = Lewis Malcolm Atkinson

| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|41|2024|07|18}}

| birth_place = South Shields, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Labour

| alma_mater = Wadham College, Oxford
University of Birmingham

| image = Official portrait of Lewis Atkinson MP crop 2.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2024

| children = 2

}}

Lewis Malcolm Atkinson (born 1982 or 1983){{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Kevin |date=18 July 2024 |title=New Sunderland Central MP Lewis Atkinson on being a newbie in Parliament, and his hopes for the city |url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/politics/new-sunderland-central-mp-lewis-atkinson-vows-to-work-my-socks-off-4702610 |access-date=27 July 2024 |website=Sunderland Echo}} is a British Labour Party politician and former NHS manager who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunderland Central since 2024.{{Cite web |title=Election latest: Tories to collapse in worst result ever, exit poll projects; Farage forecast to become an MP |url=https://news.sky.com/story/election-results-labour-conservative-starmer-sunak-latest-live-updates-12593360 |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Sky News |language=en}}

Early life and education

Lewis Malcolm Atkinson{{Cite news |last1=Robertson |first1=Ross |title=Sunderland Central General Election results for 2024 |url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/politics/sunderland-central-general-election-results-for-2024-4691674 |date=5 July 2024 |access-date=10 July 2024 |work=Sunderland Echo}} was born in South Shields and was brought up in South Tyneside.{{cite news |last1=Pidd |first1=Helen |title=Wonks not welcome: who will succeed David Miliband in South Shields? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2013/apr/09/labour-south-shields-byelection-miliband |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=9 April 2013}} He studied at Wadham College, Oxford, https://www.wadham.ox.ac.uk/news/multiple-wadham-alumni-elected-as-mps

where he studied Philosophy, politics and economics, and at the University of Birmingham, where he earned a master's degree in healthcare leadership and management.{{Cite web |title=Board |url=https://insightsnortheast.co.uk/who-we-are/board/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Insights North East |language=en-GB}}

Career

= NHS =

Atkinson entered the National Health Service (NHS) through the Graduate Management Training scheme.

Atkinson began working in the North East NHS in 2005, having previously worked in the health team of the Treasury.

Atkinson holds the NHS Leadership Academy's Nye Bevan in Executive Healthcare Leadership.

= Political =

In January 2012, Atkinson announced that he would run to be on the Labour Party National Executive Committee.{{Cite web |last=LabourList |date=2012-01-08 |title=Another candidate announces their NEC candidacy |url=https://labourlist.org/2012/01/another-candidate-announces-their-nec-candidacy/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=LabourList |language=en-GB}} In 2013, he was shortlisted to stand in South Shields, but was not ultimately selected.

Incumbent MP for Sunderland Central Julie Elliott announced that she would not seek reelection at the 2024 general election, which Atkinson later described as a "total surprise." Three days later on 30 May 2024, Atkinson was selected as the Labour Party candidate for the constituency.{{Cite web |last=Whitfield |first=Graeme |date=2024-07-02 |title=Sunderland Central general election candidates for 2024 |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/sunderland-central-candidates-general-election-29318921 |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Chronicle Live |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-30 |title=Labour announces two new candidates to stand in North East seats |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/24356865.labour-announce-gateshead-sunderland-mp-candidates/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=The Northern Echo |language=en}} He was elected in the 2024 general election,{{Cite web |last=Whitfield |first=Graeme |date=2024-05-31 |title=Labour announces election candidates in Gateshead and Sunderland |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/labour-announces-election-candidates-gateshead-29268478 |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Chronicle Live |language=en}} winning the seat with 16,852 votes (42.18% of the vote) with a majority of 15.2%.{{Cite web |title=UK general election results live: Exit poll predicts Labour to win general election landslide |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn09xn9je7lt |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-03 |title=Labour's Lewis Atkinson elected MP for Sunderland Central |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/24429160.sunderland-general-election-results-labours-lewis-atkinson-elected/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=The Northern Echo |language=en}}

In November 2024, Atkinson voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which proposes to legalise assisted suicide.{{cite web |title=Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Second Reading |url=https://votes.parliament.uk/votes/commons/division/1877 |website=UK Parliament |access-date=30 November 2024}}