Gscene profiles some of our new LGBTQ+ MPs

As the newly elected parliament is opened, over the coming days we will be profiling some of the new LGBTQ+ MPs who have been elected to the House of Commons.

Their inclusion on our site does not indicate that they campaigned on LGBTQ+ issues, although we will report as such if they have, but that they are openly ‘out’ and as such have the opportunity to represent our broadening communities in parliament. Should they so wish. 

We will start with the newly elected MPs not those who are returning.

Mark Fletcher elected to the Derbyshire seat of Bolsover beat the long-serving Dennis Skinner, known as the Beast of Bolsover who had been the Labour MP for the constituency since 1970 and just short of 50 years. Mr Skinner is 87 and after a period of ill health had not actively campaigned during the past few weeks. Fletcher has already earned himself a reputation for taking on the big guns  having stood against then Labour party leader Ed Miliband in 2015 in the Doncaster North constituency.

He is married Will Knock and has worked for both a private healthcare company Synergix and in the House of Lords as the chief of staff to Lord Popat of Harrow. His first interest in politics was noticed in his role as president of the Cambridge University Students’ Union where he attended Jesus College.

His turnover of the Labour stalwart was no small feat with a majority of over five thousand, although Brexit was a major player in the constituency which voted by more than 70% to leave the European Union in 2016. The newly elected and gay Conservative MP spoke respectfully of his rival in his victory speech saying

“He has been a wonderful constituency MP and he has inspired millions of people. I have not found a street I have walked up and down in this constituency where he has not helped somebody. Dennis . . . the love and affection of the people of Bolsover are very much still with you.”

Fletcher did not campaign on LGBTQ+ related issues during the pre-election period.