20 Facts About Karen Buck

Dame Karen Patricia Buck was born on 30 August 1958 and is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Westminster North, previously Regent's Park and Kensington North, from 1997 to 2024.

Karen Buck served on Westminster City Council from 1990 to 1997.

Karen Buck first ran for election in 1982, aged 23, as one of the three unsuccessful Labour candidates in Barnet's Mill Hill ward.

Karen Buck began working for the Labour Party in 1987 as a health directorate researcher, becoming a campaign strategy coordinator in 1992.

Karen Buck was elected to Westminster City Council in 1990, representing Queen's Park ward in a safe seat for her party.

Karen Buck remained on the council until shortly after her election to parliament in 1997, when she stood down.

Karen Buck was selected to stand for election for Labour through an all-women shortlist, in a seat which was based largely on the former Westminster North constituency, held narrowly at the 1992 general election by the former Conservative minister John Wheeler.

Karen Buck retired, and Buck was elected at the 1997 general election as the Labour MP for Regent's Park and Kensington North with a majority of 14,657 on a night which saw a historic Labour landslide win.

Karen Buck made her maiden speech on 17 June 1997, and would serve continuously as an MP for 27 years.

Karen Buck was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Miliband, alongside Wayne David, in 2013.

Karen Buck joined the Work and Pensions Committee following her re-election and Miliband's resignation in 2015.

Cooper came third, with Jeremy Corbyn becoming party leader; Karen Buck did not serve in any posts during his leadership.

Karen Buck was re-elected in 2019, with a small swing away from Labour, again with a substantial majority of 10,759, suggesting that Westminster North had become a safe seat.

Karen Buck nominated Keir Starmer, who won, and consequently became party leader.

Karen Buck was appointed Shadow Minister for Social Security in July 2020, serving in the role until she stepped down in September 2023.

In January 2024, Karen Buck announced that she would be standing down at the next general election.

Karen Buck was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2024 Birthday Honours.

Karen Buck voted in favour of the hunting ban and gay marriage, whilst in 2007, she voted against replacing Trident.

Karen Buck was previously a member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

Karen Buck was formerly a member of two white-collar public service trade unions, the Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs and the National and Local Government Officers' Association.