Richard Burgon was first elected as the Labour Party MP for Leeds East since 2015, being reelected in 2019 with a majority of 5,531.
Leeds East was formerly represented in Parliament by the Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer and Deputy Leader, Dennis Healey. It contains the Cross Gates, Gipton, Harehills, Seacroft and Temple Newsam areas of the city. A safe Labour seat, it has been held by the Labour Party ever since 1906. Ethnically diverse, Muslim voters are said to account a quarter of the electorate. In terms of median income, Leeds East is said to be the poorest seat in Yorkshire.
Burgon was the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice sitting in the Shadow Cabinet under Jeremy Corbyn. He was sacked by new Labour Leader Keir Starmer, upon Starmer becoming Labour leader.
Burgon unsuccessfully stood for the Deputy Labour Leadership in 2020.
Born in Leeds in 1980, Richard is the nephew of the former Labour MP Colin Burgon. Richard Burgon studied at Cambridge University, where he was also Chair of Cambridge University Labour Club. Later he became a trade union lawyer.
Burgon is a republican. Before swearing the mandatory oath of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II, he declared to believe in a system where the head of state is to be chosen and elected by the people. He is a member of the Campaign Group of Labour MPs and is very much on the left of the party.
In 2021, Mr Burgon sought to introduce a bill seeking to ban MPs from taking on second jobs.
Burgon enjoys live music and is supporter of the Leeds United football team.
Email: richard@richardburgon.com
Personal Website: http://www.richardburgon.com/
Twitter: @RichardBurgon
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RichardBurgonForEastLeeds
