13 Facts About Ellie Chowns

Eleanor Elizabeth Chowns was born on 7 March 1975 and is a British Green Party politician, serving as the Member of Parliament for North Herefordshire since 2024.

Ellie Chowns previously served as a Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands for the party from 2019 to 2020.

Ellie Chowns is the daughter of Gillian and Stephen Chowns, who is a methodist preacher and worked as a lecturer in human resource management.

Ellie Chowns studied geography, environmental studies, and development studies at the University of Sussex, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1997.

Ellie Chowns then undertook a one-year Master of Professional Studies degree in sustainable development at the University of Middlesex, graduating in 1998.

Ellie Chowns later undertook doctoral research in international development at the University of Birmingham.

Ellie Chowns completed her Doctor of Philosophy degree in 2014, with a doctoral thesis titled "The political economy of community management: a study of factors influencing sustainability in Malawi's rural water supply sector".

Ellie Chowns is a specialist in international development, having worked for charities such as Voluntary Service Overseas and Christian Aid and as a lecturer at the University of Birmingham.

Ellie Chowns was arrested on 14 October 2019 in Trafalgar Square defending the rights of Extinction Rebellion protesters to continue.

Ellie Chowns was released pending investigation, and later was one of the claimants to challenge the legality of the Section 14 order under which she was arrested.

Ellie Chowns declined to sue the Metropolitan Police for unlawful arrest, but declared the ruling to be a "victory for the right to peaceful assembly and protest, two cornerstones of our democracy".

On 18 July 2024, Ellie Chowns made her maiden speech in the House of Commons during a debate on foreign affairs and defence.

Ellie Chowns has two sons, Nathan, who graduated in 2023, and Ronan, a student at Manchester University.