13 Facts About Tom Blenkinsop

Thomas Francis Tom Blenkinsop was born on 14 August 1980 in Middlesbrough and brought-up in Marton.

Tom Blenkinsop graduated from Teesside University with a BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and the University of Warwick with an MA in Continental philosophy.

Tom Blenkinsop worked as a constituency researcher for Ashok Kumar, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, from 2002 to 2008.

Tom Blenkinsop became a campaign manager for the Community Trade Union in 2008 and continued in the role until his election to Parliament in 2010.

Tom Blenkinsop was selected as the Labour candidate for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland in April 2010, following Ashok Kumar's unexpected death the previous month.

Tom Blenkinsop was elected at the May 2010 general election, albeit with a majority significantly reduced to under 2,000.

Tom Blenkinsop joined the opposition front bench under the leadership of Ed Miliband, serving as a whip from 2011 to 2015.

Tom Blenkinsop was re-elected with a marginally increased majority at the 2015 general election.

Tom Blenkinsop supported Liz Kendall in the 2015 Labour leadership election and Owen Smith in the 2016 leadership election.

Tom Blenkinsop remained a Labour member, and campaigned for former Labour Colleagues, but not Corbyn.

Tom Blenkinsop returned to the Community union as a London-based project manager after leaving Parliament, and became a public affairs advisor for the Federation of Small Business in 2020.

Since 2016 Tom Blenkinsop has been a reservist soldier serving with 243 Provost Company, 1 Royal Military Police, Adjutant General's Corps.

Tom Blenkinsop was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal 2023.