Hubbry Logo
Sam RushworthSam RushworthMain
Open search
Sam Rushworth
Community hub
Sam Rushworth
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Sam Rushworth
Sam Rushworth
Sam Rushworth
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Samuel Jonathan Rushworth (born 1984) is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bishop Auckland since 2024.[1] He previously worked in international development.

Key Information

Early life and education

[edit]

Rushworth grew up in Blackpool, and was educated at Hodgson High School, a state secondary school in Poulton-le-Fylde. He pursued higher education at the University of Manchester, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in economics and social studies, specialising in development economics.[2]

Rushworth furthered his studies with a Master of Arts (MA) degree in international development from the University of Manchester. He also holds a Diploma in Advanced Business French from the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris[2] and a Master of Research (MRes) degree in education and international development from the University of East Anglia, where he later completed his PhD. His doctoral thesis, titled "“Teacher, do you think I have a bright future?” - Anxiety and uncertainty in a Rwandan Catholic Secondary Boarding and Day School", which offers an in-depth ethnographic study of Rwandan adolescents in a Catholic boarding school. His work focuses on the themes of anxiety and uncertainty in educational settings.[3]

Early career

[edit]

Rushworth's career began in various roles that laid the foundation for his future work in international development and education. He served as a Project Manager for Stockport Council and later as a Volunteering and Training Manager for the British Red Cross.[2] He was Youth Club Manager at the Hamlet Centre and as an Associate Tutor at the University of East Anglia.[4]

Rushworth's work in international development began with his work at the Aegis Trust, an organization dedicated to the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities.[5] He held multiple positions, including Head of Engagement, Director of Strategy, and Special Advisor to the Head of Strategy.[2] He specialized in education and conflict prevention, developing and implementing strategies to promote peace and stability in conflict-affected regions.

In 2017, Rushworth co-founded African Dreams Ltd, a consultancy focused on development projects in Rwanda, where he continues to serve as CEO. He also founded Our World Research & Consultancy Ltd, providing strategic advice and research services on global development issues.[6]

He also worked as a Lecturer at Macclesfield College of Further Education and has been involved in various research projects.[7] Prior to becoming an MP he was the Programme Manager for the Strategic Research Fund at Durham University, where he oversaw initiatives aimed at fostering innovative research and development.[2]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rushworth and his family walked from coast to coast to raise funds for Children North East, a charity supporting disadvantaged children.[8]

Political career

[edit]

Rushworth stood in the seats of Blackpool North and Cleveleys in 2015 and Tatton in 2017.[9]

He was selected as the Labour Party's prospective parliamentary candidate for Bishop Auckland in 2022, a previously 'Red Wall' seat, but one of many that fell to the Conservatives at the 2019 General Election in 2022.[10] He successfully contested the seat in the 2024 general election, winning 17,036 votes, or 42.1% of the overall vote, with a majority of 6,672.[11] He was also the chair of Bishop Auckland Constituency Labour Party.[12]

He has served on the executive board of the Labour Campaign for International Development (LCID) and is known for his advocacy on issues such as child poverty.[13]

He is a member of the International Development Select Committee,[14] and chairs the T-levels and Extraordinary Rendition All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPG), as well as being co-chair of the Investment Fraud and fairer Financial Services APPG, and a vice chair of the Rural Services, Men and Boys' issues and Climate Nature and Security APPGs.[15]

He voted against the Terminally Ill Adults (end of life) Bill, which would legalise assisted dying in the UK at both second and third reading.

In May 2025, a man was sentenced to one and half years in prison for repeatedly threatening to kill him, in comments referred to by the judge at sentencing as "vile."[16]

In July 2025 he was one of 127 MPs who signed the reasoned amendment protesting against the Universal Credit and PIP Bill, before ultimately voting for the legislation after concessions were made by the Government, including the cancellation of any immediate changes to PIP.[17]

Personal life

[edit]

Rushworth is married to Siobhain, and they have five children[18][19] He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has worked with the church to bring delegations of women and youth from countries affected by interfaith conflict.[20][21] He has said that his grandmother died as a result of the Infected Blood Scandal.[22]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Sam Rushworth

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Sam Rushworth is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the (MP) for since his election on 4 July 2024. Prior to entering , he held roles in international development, education, and conflict prevention, including work focused on improving education systems and in regions affected by fragility and conflict. Rushworth earned a PhD in education and . His professional experience includes time in , such as two years teaching at a secondary school in while conducting research for his doctoral studies. As , he advocates for local issues in while drawing on his background to contribute to parliamentary discussions on education, development, and conflict-related matters.

Early life

Upbringing

Sam Rushworth grew up in , , after his family relocated there when he was seven due to his father's employment as a junior civil servant. His mother worked as a learning support tutor assisting individuals with complex needs, while his father also served as a .

Education

Rushworth studied at the . He later obtained a PhD in Education and International Development from the University of East Anglia.

Professional career

Early roles

Rushworth began his professional career in education through tutoring roles in the . He served as a PhD tutor for The Brilliant Club, an organization that deploys researchers to teach university-level content in schools serving disadvantaged pupils. In this capacity, he delivered sessions in several schools across the , focusing on academic enrichment and skills development for underprivileged students. These early experiences honed his abilities in classroom engagement and community-based education, paving the way for subsequent career progression.

International development

Rushworth conducted on education in as part of his PhD in Education and International Development, focusing on aspirations, anxieties, and uncertainties among students in a Catholic secondary boarding school. This work built on his experience as a schoolteacher in , where he engaged directly with educational systems in post-conflict settings. He contributed to the "Building Cultures of Peace in Rwanda Schools" project, which aimed to foster skills through research methods workshops and community engagement in Rwandan educational contexts. In northern Ghana, Rushworth supported women's empowerment initiatives as part of broader international development efforts, addressing gender equity in conflict-prone regions. His roles emphasized conflict prevention and humanitarian education, shaping expertise in atrocity prevention and improving access to schooling for vulnerable populations. These experiences in sub-Saharan Africa informed his approach to global challenges like violent conflict mitigation and girls' education advancement.

Political career

Party involvement

Rushworth has been a lifelong member of the Labour Party, with his initial involvement occurring during the when he volunteered to deliver leaflets at around 12 years old. In , he participated in local party leadership, including efforts to secure an early candidate selection process beginning in July 2022 to reconnect with voters who had lost faith in the party following the . Rushworth contributed to party structures by running and addressing community concerns through and signposting support, even without Labour in government. He was selected as the Labour Party's for by local constituency members.

2024 election

Sam Rushworth was selected as the Labour Party candidate for the constituency ahead of the . The election, held on 4 July 2024, saw Labour achieve a national landslide victory, reclaiming several "" seats including , which had been won by the Conservatives in 2019. Rushworth's campaign focused on local issues amid broader national themes of economic recovery and public service reform. Rushworth secured 17,036 votes, representing 42.1% of the vote share—a 5.5 percentage point increase for Labour compared to 2019—defeating the Conservative candidate Jane MacBean, who received 10,364 votes (25.6%). Reform UK's Rhys Burris placed third with 9,466 votes. This result delivered a majority of 6,672 votes for Rushworth, flipping the seat back to Labour.

Parliamentary service

Rushworth has served on the International Development Committee since 21 October 2024. He also participated in the committee examining the and (Status) Bill [HL] from 6 to 13 November 2024. In debates, Rushworth has addressed constituency issues, such as advocating for 's bid to become the UK's Town of Culture on 7 January 2026, where he highlighted the area's historical ties to and the calendar's invention. He spoke on farming profitability on 18 December 2025, focusing on challenges for smaller upland farms in and amid uneven subsidy distribution. On foreign affairs, he submitted a written question on 25 November 2025 regarding whether interest from frozen proceeds of Chelsea Football Club's sale—amounting to £2.5 billion—would support Ukrainian war victims via a foundation, while ensuring funds avoid sanctioned individuals. His voting record shows strong alignment with Labour Party positions, at 96% over 323 divisions. He has supported measures to increase , strengthen tenant rights through landlord regulations, and enact the Border Security Bill, including scrapping the . An exception occurred on a concerning assistance for terminally ill individuals, where his stance diverged from the majority of Labour MPs.

References

  1. https://members.parliament.uk/member/5108/contact
  2. https://www.samrushworth.co.uk/about-me/
  3. https://www.alderleyedge.com/news/article/15670/general-election-2017-sam-rushworth-selected-as-labour-candidate-for-tatton
  4. https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/sam-rushworth/debate/2025-01-09/commons/westminster-hall/impact-of-conflict-on-women-and-girls
  5. https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/news/meet-the-man-who-would-be-teesdales-next-mp/
  6. https://inhouse.london/informed/the-new-mps-who-could-influence-higher-education/
  7. https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/67829/
  8. https://thebrilliantclub.org/news/labour-party-conference-university-access-2-0/
  9. https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/sam-rushworth/dept-debates/wales-office
  10. https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/67829/1/Samuel_Rushworth_Thesis_-_May_2018.pdf
  11. https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/sam-rushworth/dept-debates/FCDO
  12. https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FT00469X%2F1
  13. https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024-11-21/debates/4992E027-62FD-452D-859F-4C68F413FA00/InternationalMen%E2%80%99SDay
  14. https://labourlist.org/2024/06/our-rolling-list-of-labour-parliamentary-candidate-selections/
  15. https://members.parliament.uk/member/5108/electionresult
  16. https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001101
  17. https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/24428276.bishop-auckland-election-result-labour-win-sam-rushworth/
  18. https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/sam-rushworth
  19. https://members.parliament.uk/member/5108/career
  20. https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/26323/sam_rushworth/bishop_auckland/speeches
  21. https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/26323/sam_rushworth/bishop_auckland/votes
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.