General Election: South Essex new Members of Parliament

In a series of tightly fought battles, three new Labour MPs, one new Tory, and a Reform UK candidate have been elected to represent you in central Government.

Here, we look at their previous achievements and background. 

Southend East and Rochford: Bayo Alaba

MP - Bayo Alaba (Image: Bayo Alaba)

AS a businessman, a former Parachute Regiment soldier, school governor, and father-of-three, Bayo Alaba is set to bring a wealth of varied experience to Southend East and Rochford. 

Mr Alaba is currently a Labour councillor for Redbridge after being elected on May 5 2022. 

He decided to run in September 2021 because he “had had enough of underrepresentation of local level and misrepresentation at the national level”. 

During the 2022 local elections, he was part of a historic achievement as he was one of three black Redbridge Labour councillors - the first ever elected to office within the Labour group. 

Outside of politics, he described himself as a “self-made businessman” and “one of the pioneers” of Shoreditch and Dalston’s bustling creative and night time economy in east London. 

He is also a school governor, youth mentor and charity trustee. 

Mr Alaba spent 11 years with the Parachute Regiment reserves and as a reconnaissance soldier and recruit instructor he trained and prepared soldiers for active service. 

Southend West and Leigh: David Burton-Sampson

MP - David Burton-Sampson (Image: Gaz de Vere) David Burton-Sampson has lived in Essex since 1999 and has been an active member of the Labour party throughout his life. 

Prior to being selected as parliamentary candidate for Southend West and Leigh, Mr Burton-Sampson served as a Basildon Council in the St Martin’s ward for two terms and was Basildon mayor between 2019 and 2022. 

Originally from Liverpool, Mr Burton-Sampson spoke of his enormous pride at being a gay, black man who has made it being mayor when he was handed the role in 2019. 

He has played an active role in the LGBT+ community and was influential in helping organise Pride events in Basildon. 

In his campaign, he vowed to ensure the residents of Southend and Leigh have access to the services and support they need to live a healthier, happier, and fairer life and “get the NHS back on its feet” as well as “taking back our streets by tackling crime and anti-social behaviour”. 

Thurrock: Jen Craft

MP - Jen Craft (Image: Newsquest) Jen Craft ousted long-standing Tory MP Jackie Doyle-Price to turn Thurrock red.

Mrs Craft was selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Thurrock in 2022 after being convinced to run by her husband, Alistair. 

At the time, she was chosen by local party members beating a series of big names, including Thurrock Council Labour leader John Kent, former Basildon Council Labour leader Jack Ferguson, and Ealing Council member Miriam Rice. 

Born at Orsett Hospital, Mrs Craft grew up in Grays attending Grays Convent High School and Palmers College. 

She later studied politics and history at university before working as a civil servant. She left the civil service to look after one of her children, who has down syndrome. 

Mrs Craft was Labour MP Margaret Hodge’s campaign manager in Barking at the 2010 General Election and came second when she stood in the 2019 Thurrock Council election as a labour candidate in the Stifford Clays ward. 

Basildon and Billericay: Richard Holden

MP - Richard Holden (Image: Richard Holden) Richard Holden has been chairman of the Chairman of the Conservative Party since November 2023 and served as MP for North West Durham from 2019 until 2024. 

The new Basildon and Billericay MP has been involved in the Tory party since he began work at Conservative Campaign Headquarters in 2007. Starting out as a data entry officer, he then moved into a series of roles within the press office before becoming deputy head of press in 2012. 

He made his first entry as a candidate in 2015, where he stood as a Conservative candidate in the traditionally Labour safe-seat of Preston. He finished in second place with 20 per cent of the votes. 

Mr Holden worked for Theresa May’s 2016 Conservative Party leadership election campaign as well as also working as part of Boris Johnson’s 2019 election campaign before being selected as a candidate for North West Durham in 2019. 

As an MP, he was appointed as the Parliamentary under secretary of state and roads and local transport in 2022. 

South Basildon and East Thurrock: James McMurdock

MP - James McMurdock (Image: Reform UK) JAMES McMurdock made his first entry into politics when he was announced as Reform UK’s candidate in South Basildon and East Thurrock just weeks ago.

James, from Langdon Hills, had no election agent and managed his own campaign after being added at the last minute to help boost Nigel Farage’s Reform party numbers in the lead-up to the General Election. 

By his own admission, he is the “opposite of a career politician” and claims his choice to stand was “built on the need to take action”. 

After growing in Basildon, he graduation from the University of Sussex with a BA in Economics. 

During his time at university, he was elected treasurer for the varsity rugby club and co-founded the finance society. 

Following his graduation, he launched a career in banking that he claims has “facilitated billions of dollars in business deals” for both “global corporations and developing country governments”. 

His career has seen him land roles at Barclays Capital, Goldman Sachs and the prestigious Lehman Brothers.

During the count, he was supported by his mum, dad and young family.