[go: up one dir, main page]

Lloyd Russell-Moyle FRSA (born 14 September 1986) is a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Brighton Kemptown from 2017 to 2024. A member of the Labour and Co-operative Party, he was a member of Brighton and Hove City Council from 2016 to 2017.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle
Official portrait, 2019
Member of Parliament
for Brighton Kemptown
In office
8 June 2017 – 30 May 2024
Preceded bySimon Kirby
Succeeded byChris Ward
Member of Brighton and Hove City Council
for East Brighton
In office
4 August 2016 – 27 December 2017
Preceded byMaggie Barredell
Succeeded byNancy Platts
Personal details
Born
Lloyd Cameron Russell-Moyle

(1986-09-14) 14 September 1986 (age 38)
Brighton, East Sussex, England
Political partyLabour Co-op[a]
Other political
affiliations
Socialist Campaign Group
Alma materUniversity of Bradford (BA)
University of Sussex (LLM)

In May 2024 he was suspended from the Labour Party for what he described as a "vexatious and politically motivated complaint" from prior to him being an MP and the process of exoneration took too long to be eligible for the July 2024 general election.[1]

He is a national executive member of the Socialist Education Association[2] being re-elected in September 2024.

Early life and education

edit

Lloyd Cameron Russell-Moyle was born on 14 September 1986 in Brighton, England.[3][4][5] He was educated at Wallands Primary School,[6] Priory School, Lewes,[7] and Sussex Downs College.[8] He studied at the University of Bradford[9] and the University of Sussex.[10]

Russell-Moyle worked at the National Youth Agency,[11] chairing The Woodcraft Folk[12] and as vice-president of the European Youth Forum based in Brussels.[13]

Political career

edit
 
Russell-Moyle in 2015

Russell-Moyle unsuccessfully stood at the 2015 general election in Lewes, coming fourth with 9.9% of the vote behind the incumbent Conservative MP Maria Caulfield, the Liberal Democrat candidate Norman Baker, and the UKIP candidate Ray Finch.[14][7]

He was elected and served as a councillor on Brighton and Hove City Council in August 2016.[15] Following his election to Parliament, Russell-Moyle resigned from the Council in December 2017.[16]

2017 parliament

edit

At the snap 2017 general election, Russell-Moyle was elected to Parliament as MP for Brighton Kemptown, winning with 58.3% of the vote and a majority of 9,868.[15][17]

In May 2018 Russell-Moyle as the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Youth Affairs launched an inquiry into "the Role and Sufficiency of Youth Work".[18][19] In the recommendations published in October 2018 he highlighted the relevance and importance of the inquiry stating, "Over the years youth work has borne the brunt of significant spending cuts. Recent events and reports suggest the loss of youth work has had a negative impact on young people and communities".[20]

On 10 December 2018, Russell-Moyle was suspended from the House of Commons for the remainder of the day's sitting after he seized the ceremonial mace in protest at the government's eleventh-hour deferral of the vote on the EU Withdrawal Agreement, which had been scheduled for the following day.[21][22]

On 5 March 2019, Russell-Moyle joined thirteen other Labour MPs on Westminster Bridge, next to the Houses of Parliament, in a protest against Brexit under the banner 'Love Socialism Hate Brexit'.[23] Russell-Moyle was one of a number of MPs to light red flares on the bridge. The use of flares so close to Westminster drew the attention of uniformed police, who arrived by boat to inquire what was taking place.[23]

During Prime Minister's Questions, on 20 March 2019, Russell-Moyle urged Prime Minister Theresa May to "condemn" Andrea Leadsom for the Cabinet Minister's comments on LGBT education.[24] Leadsom had made comments on radio that parents should decide when their children are "exposed" to LGBT education.[25] Leadsom's comments drew anger from many who felt, in Russell-Moyle's words, that "This is Conservative Party dog-whistle politics".[24] Russell-Moyle also criticised the Prime Minister, stating that she had "campaigned to keep Section 28" which prevented the "promotion of homosexuality", which Russell-Moyle said had "led to millions of young people like myself growing in fear of being LGBT".[24]

Russell-Moyle was involved in a physical altercation on 21 March 2019 whilst out showing support for demonstrators leafleting for 'The People's March', a demonstration in support of the People's Vote campaign.[26][27][28] Russell-Moyle described how an individual first began arguing with an ITV News crew suggesting that they were part of a "mainstream media conspiracy to stop Brexit".[28] Russell-Moyle then approached the scene and said that he was an MP and that "the majority of [his] constituents had voted Remain". He said that this information exacerbated the situation further with the individual describing MPs as "traitors" and lunging at him.[27][28] The incident took place less than 24 hours after Prime Minister Theresa May gave a speech on Brexit in which she blamed MPs for deliberately delaying her attempt to ensure the UK left the EU by 29 March.[29]

In June 2019, Russell-Moyle was criticised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews for hosting a Stop the War coalition meeting in Parliament to which a representative of the Yemeni Houthi group, Ahmed Alshami, had been invited.[30][31] The Board's Vice President stated that "hosting an organisation in the Houses of Parliament whose official slogan includes the phrase ‘death to Israel, curse the Jews’ is utterly unacceptable. Lloyd Russell-Moyle should immediately disavow his support for this event".[32] Russell-Moyle described Alshami as "part of the delegation to the UN process...I support efforts to bring peace to Yemen, encouraging dialogue with people on all sides, however much I disagree with Mr Alshami['s] views".[31] Russell-Moyle later made his offer to host the meeting conditional on the non-participation of Alshami.[33]

2019 parliament

edit

At the 2019 general election, Russell-Moyle was re-elected as MP for Brighton Kemptown with a decreased vote share of 51.6% and a decreased majority of 8,061.[34] His speech on the night, which included an undertaking to "fight [the Tories] in ...the Parliament...the courts...the workplaces...the streets", aroused comment in the press and on social media.[35][36][37] In December 2019, Russell-Moyle sparked controversy when he said he was not a "cunt" in refusing to call for the immediate resignation of Jeremy Corbyn, during an exchange on instant messenger with a former party member, which was leaked to The Sun.[38]

Russell-Moyle was appointed Shadow Foreign Minister in January 2020, holding the brief for the Americas and Caribbean, East Asia and the Pacific and the Overseas Territories.[39] Upon the election of Keir Starmer as party leader, he was appointed as Shadow Minister for Natural Environment and Air Quality.[40]

In April 2020, Russell-Moyle was reported to have shared a link to an unredacted version of a Labour Party dossier into the handling of antisemitism, which contained the names and details of whistle-blowers.[41]

In June 2020, he issued an apology[42][43] after writing an article for Tribune in which he accused J. K. Rowling of using her experience of domestic abuse and sexual assault to justify discrimination against transgender people.[44][45]

On 16 July 2020, Russell-Moyle resigned from his frontbench role, citing a "campaign by the right-wing media" which he believes led to him and his staff receiving targeted abuse.[46]

In January 2023, Russell-Moyle reacted angrily to a speech by Miriam Cates in a debate on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.,[47] branding her as 'transphobic' and saying she 'should be ashamed'. He later apologised to Dame Rosie Winterton and to Cates for the tone of his response. Rosie Duffield accused Russell-Moyle of crossing the floor to sit next to Cates in order to intimidate her.[47] Conservative MP Paul Bristow confirmed the report and said he moved closer to Cates in response to Russell-Moyle's behaviour.[48] The following week Dame Rosie Winterton confirmed that it was usual for MPs of any party to sit where Russell-Moyle sat saying "any hon. Gentleman or hon. Lady can sit in the end seats".[49]

On 29 May 2024, he was suspended from the Labour Party in relation to a complaint about his behaviour eight years prior. Because there was not sufficient time for the investigation of the complaint to be resolved before the candidacy deadline for the 2024 general election, he became ineligible to stand as the Labour Party candidate for Brighton Kemptown. He described the complaint as "vexatious and politically motivated" and expressed a belief that he would be fully exonerated.[50]

Select Committees and All Party Parliamentary Groups

edit

Russell-Moyle is Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Youth Affairs. Russell-Moyle is also listed as Chair[51] of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Kurdistan in Turkey and Syria, which replaced his Chairmanship of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Kurds in Iran; All-Party Parliamentary Group for Rojava (Democratic Federation of Northern Syria) and Vice Chairmanship of Kurds in Turkey in the 2017–2019 Parliament.[52]

Russell-Moyle is listed as Treasurer[51] of All-Party Parliamentary Groups on HIV/AIDS and on Universities and he is listed as Vice Chair[51] or Officer of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups on The Baháʼí Faith; Council Housing; Deaths Abroad, Consular Services and Assistance; Housing Market and Housing Delivery; Sixth Form Education and Vaccinations for All.

During the 2017–2019 Parliament Russell-Moyle was a member of following Parliamentary committees:[53]

  • Voyeurism (Offences) (No. 2) Bill[54]
  • Prisons (Interference with Wireless Telegraphy) Bill[55]
  • Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill [Lords][56]
  • National Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill[57]
  • Civil Liability Bill [Lords][58]
  • Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill [Lords][59]

In the 2019 Parliament Russell-Moyle has been member of the following Parliamentary committees:[60]

Russell-Moyle is an honorary associate of the National Secular Society.[61]

Personal life

edit

Russell-Moyle is gay.[62] In November 2018, during a House of Commons debate to mark the 30th World AIDS Day,[63] Russell-Moyle revealed he had been diagnosed as HIV positive a decade earlier,[63][64] saying he wanted to tackle the stigma still associated with the condition and stating: "I have not only survived, I've prospered, and any partner I have is safe and protected",[65] making reference later in his speech to having an undetectable viral load, as well as discussing pre-exposure prophylaxis and public health policy.[64] In disclosing his HIV status in a Parliamentary speech, he became the first MP to do so in the chamber of the House of Commons and only the second person (after Chris Smith) to live openly with HIV as an MP.[63][64][65]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Labour Party membership suspended since May 2024.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Labour suspends MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle over complaint". BBC News. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  2. ^ "SEA NEC 2023-24". Socialist Educational Association. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP". www.secularism.org.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Russell-Moyle, Lloyd". Politics.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  5. ^ Carr, Tim; Dale, Iain; Waller, Robert (7 September 2017). The Politicos Guide to the New House of Commons 2017. Biteback. ISBN 978-1-78590-278-9. Retrieved 4 February 2021 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "Russell-Moyle, Lloyd Cameron". Who's Who. Vol. 2018 (February 2018 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 13 February 2018. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  7. ^ a b "UK Polling Report Lewes 2015". UK Polling Report. 2015. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Enthusiastic about Politics?". Sussex Downs College. 18 June 2014. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  9. ^ Vidal, John (9 August 2006). "Welcome to Woodie land". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  10. ^ "Sussex Law on Twitter: "Our new MPs #GE2017, including Sussex Law alumnus Lloyd Russell-Moyle"". Twitter. University of Sussex School of Law. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  11. ^ "The National Youth Agency: Four young trainers join The NYA activeinvolvement team". Children & Young People Now. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  12. ^ "When I camped with Corbyn - and what British politics can learn from the Woodcraft Folk - The i newspaper online iNews". inews.co.uk. 11 June 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  13. ^ "European Youth Forum". youthforum.org. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. ^ a b le Duc, Frank (5 August 2016). "Labour holds East Brighton in by-election". Brighton and Hove News. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Council chief asked to explain Labour head start in East Brighton by-election". Brighton and Hove News. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  17. ^ Forster, Katie (9 June 2017). "Kemptown election result: Brighton seat swings from Tories to Labour Co-operative". The Independent. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Youth Work Inquiry: Recommendations and Summary" (PDF). October 2018. pp. 17–19. Archived from the original on 27 September 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  19. ^ "Youth Work Inquiry: Recommendations and Summary" (PDF). October 2018. Archived from the original on 27 September 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  20. ^ "Youth Work Inquiry: Recommendations and Summary" (PDF). October 2018. p. 4. Archived from the original on 27 September 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  21. ^ Buchan, Lizzy (10 December 2018). "Labour MP suspended from Commons for stealing ceremonial mace in protest at Brexit vote delay". The Independent.
  22. ^ Jackman, Josh (11 December 2018). "Gay MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle thrown out of Parliament for taking mace". PinkNews. Gay Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle was kicked out of Parliament after taking the ceremonial mace which the House of Commons needs to meet, vote and pass bills.
  23. ^ a b Read, Jonathon (5 March 2019). "Love Socialism Hate Brexit protest held by Labour MPs in Westminster". The New European. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  24. ^ a b c "PM must 'condemn' Andrea Leadsom over LGBT education comments, says Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle". ITV news. 20 March 2019.
  25. ^ "Leadsom: Parents Should Choose When Kids Are "exposed" to LGBT Education". LBC. 20 March 2019.
  26. ^ "Lloyd Russell-Moyle on Twitter: I was out today in the street of Kemptown with @itvnews, a vast majority want to remain and have a final say vote on deal vs remain. Unfortunately at the end of the day a man came up and started shouting at the TV crew and me. Saying MPs are the problems & we are traitors."". twitter.com. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  27. ^ a b Walker, Jamie (21 March 2019). "Lloyd Russell-Moyle attacked in Brighton over Brexit". The Argus.
  28. ^ a b c Mee, Emily (21 March 2019). "Brexit: Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle attacked and called 'traitor'". Sky News.
  29. ^ Drury, Colin (21 March 2019). "Lloyd Russell-Moyle: Labour MP blames Theresa May after he is attacked in Kemptown street". The Independent.
  30. ^ "Board of Deputies condemns Labour MP’s plan to host representative of antisemitic group in Parliament" 24 June 2019, https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/labour-mp-lloyd-russell-moyle-invites-representative-of-antisemitic-group-to-parliament-1.485737
  31. ^ a b Daniel Sugarman. "Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle invites representative of antisemitic group to Parliament" Jewish Chronicle 24 June 2019, https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/labour-mp-lloyd-russell-moyle-invites-representative-of-antisemitic-group-to-parliament-1.485737
  32. ^ "Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle invites representative of antisemitic group to Parliament". 24 June 2019. Board of Deputies condemns Labour MP's plan to host representative of antisemitic group in Parliament
  33. ^ Sugarman, Daniel (25 June 2019). "Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle withdraws invitation to representative of antisemitic group". The Jewish chronicle. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  34. ^ "Brighton Kemptown Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  35. ^ "Labour's Lloyd Russell-Moyle launches rant as he's re-elected MP for Brighton Kemptown". The Argus. 13 December 2019.
  36. ^ "Brighton Kemptown 2019". 12 December 2019 – via www.youtube.com.
  37. ^ "Former MP slams Lloyd Russell-Moyle for 'demanding political violence'". The Argus.
  38. ^ "Labour MP calls anti-Corbyn colleagues 'c***s*". The Argus.
  39. ^ "Britain in the World - Monday 13 January 2020 - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk.
  40. ^ "Keir Starmer Appoints Frontbench". The Labour Party. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  41. ^ Harpin, Lee (14 April 2020). "New Labour shadow minister condemned for sharing unredacted version of antisemitism report". Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  42. ^ Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP [@@lloyd_rm] (28 June 2020). "I want to apologies unreservedly about the comments in the article that I wrote last week in Tribune regarding Trans rights in which I mention J.K. Rowling. J.K. Rowling's first disclosures of domestic abuse and sexual assault in her recent article on Trans issues.. 1/2" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  43. ^ Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP [@@lloyd_rm] (28 June 2020). "...were heartfelt and must have been hard to say. Whilst I may disagree with some of her analysis on trans rights, it was wrong of me to suggest that she used her own dreadful experience in anything other than good faith. I have asked Tribune to remove the line in question. 2/2" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  44. ^ Woodcock, Andrew (28 June 2020). "Lloyd Russell-Moyle: Labour MP apologises after accusing JK Rowling of using her history of abuse in transgender row". The Independent.
  45. ^ "Rebecca Long-Bailey: Ed Miliband says Labour left-wingers are not facing 'purge'". BBC News. 28 June 2020.
  46. ^ "Labour MP quits frontbench post citing 'media campaign'". BBC News. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  47. ^ a b "MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle sorry for tone in gender debate". BBC News. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  48. ^ Bristow, Paul (20 January 2023). "Paul Bristow MP on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  49. ^ "Hansard: Points of Order Volume 726: debated on Monday 23 January 2023". Parliament UK. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  50. ^ McKiernan, Jennifer; Wright, Charlotte (29 May 2024). "Labour suspends MP Russell-Moyle over complaint". BBC. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  51. ^ a b c "Register of All Party Parliamentary Groups" (PDF). UK Parliament. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  52. ^ "Register of All Party Parliamentary Groups" (PDF). UK Parliament. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  53. ^ "Lloyd Russell-Moyle - Roles". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  54. ^ "House of Commons Public Bill Committee on the Voyeurism (Offences) (No. 2) Bill 2017-19". UK Parliament. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  55. ^ "House of Commons Public Bill Committee on the Prisons (Interference with Wireless Telegraphy) Bill 2017-19". UK Parliament. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  56. ^ "Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill [Lords]". They Work for You. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  57. ^ "National Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill". They Work for You. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  58. ^ "Civil Liability Bill [Lords]". They Work for You. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  59. ^ "Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill [Lords]". They Work for You. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  60. ^ "Lloyd Russell-Moyle - Parliamentary career". UK Parliament. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  61. ^ "National Secular Society Honorary Associates". National Secular Society. Retrieved 27 July 2019
  62. ^ Billson, Chantelle (30 May 2024). "Gay MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle 'gutted' after being suspended by Labour". PinkNews. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  63. ^ a b c "Lloyd Russell-Moyle: MP announces in Commons he is HIV positive". BBC News Online. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  64. ^ a b c "HIV and World AIDS Day: 29 November 2018". TheyWorkForYou. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  65. ^ a b Walker, Peter (29 November 2018). "MP reveals he is HIV positive in attempt to tackle stigma". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
edit
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Brighton Kemptown
20172024
Succeeded by