16 Facts About Jessica Morden

Jessica Elizabeth Morden was born on 29 May 1968 and is a British politician serving as Member of Parliament for Newport East since 2005.

In 1991, Jessica Morden worked for Huw Edwards, MP for Monmouth.

Jessica Morden organised some of Labour's election campaigns for the 1997 election.

Jessica Morden was selected as the Labour Party candidate for Newport East in the 2005 general election by the all-women shortlists method.

Jessica Morden was elected as the first female MP in South East Wales with a 6,800 majority.

Jessica Morden served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Wales The Rt Hon Peter Hain MP until May 2010, and later as Shadow Parliamentary Private Secretary to Owen Smith MP during his time as Shadow Secretary of State for Wales.

Jessica Morden was appointed by the Speaker to the Members' Advisory Committee to oversee the setting up of the first ever nursery in the House of Commons.

Jessica Morden served as a Senior Whip in the Opposition Whips' office with responsibility for EU Withdrawal, Wales, and Prime Minister's Questions.

Jessica Morden was elected as chair of the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments in November 2018 and, following the 2019 election, re-elected in February 2020.

In March 2008, some of Jessica Morden's constituents criticised her after she voted against a Conservative parliamentary motion to halt the closure of hundreds of Post Offices whilst simultaneously campaigning to save the Christchurch Road branch in Newport East.

Jessica Morden supported her former employer Owen Smith in his unsuccessful attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 Labour leadership election.

Jessica Morden was re-elected at the 2017 general election, having increased her majority to 8,003.

Jessica Morden was re-elected at the 2019 general election with a reduced majority of 1,992.

Jessica Morden was considered the favourite of Keir Starmer and the party leadership, while Efford was considered as the alternative candidate who had the support of MPs on the left.

On 17 July 2024, Jessica Morden was elected chair over Efford.

Jessica Morden is one of nine presidents of Better Planet Education.