17 Members of Parliament and Peers from across the political spectrum are set to lace up their running shoes and hit the streets of London.
In total, 10 Labour MPs will be on the Start Line, alongside five Conservative MPs, and two from the Liberal Democrats.
From this year’s cohort, 10 will be making their debuts as MPs for the 45th edition of the event, six of whom belong to Labour: Michael Shanks (Rutherglen), John Slinger (Rugby), Chris Curtis (Milton Keynes North), Lloyd Hatton (South Dorset), Patrick Hurley (Southport), and Josh Fenton-Glynn (Calder Valley).
Robert Jenrick (Newark), the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, is among the other debutants attempting the 26.2-mile course for the very first time as MPs, along with fellow Conservative MPs Harriet Cross (Gordon and Buchan), and Blake Stephenson (Mid Bedfordshire), as well as Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon (Harrogate and Knaresborough).
At the other end of the experience spectrum is Alex Norris (Lab (Co-op), Nottingham North and Kimberley) who will be participating in his fourth London Marathon as an MP
Lord James Bethell, the only Peer participating this year, returns for his third consecutive TCS London Marathon.
The fastest London Marathon time ever recorded by a sitting male MP was by Matthew Parris (Con, Derbyshire West) in 1985 when he finished in 2:32:57. The fastest time by a sitting female MP was set by Liberal Democrat Jo Swinson in 2011 when she finished in 3:57:00.
Having run 12 apiece, Alun Cairns and Edward Timpson jointly hold the record for the highest number of London Marathons completed as an MP.
Cat Smith (Lab, Lancaster and Wyre) is set to take part in her third London Marathon this year, which matches Ruth Cadbury’s record for the most participations in the event as an MP.
Please view the full list below.
MPs
- Alex Norris - (Labour (Co-op) MP for Nottingham North and Kimberley)
- Andrew Bowie – (Scottish Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
- Blake Stephenson – (Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire)
- Cat Smith - (Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre)
- Chris Curtis - (Labour MP for Milton Keynes North)
- Chris Evans - (Labour Co-op MP for Caerphilly)
- David Simmonds - (Conservative MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
- Harriet Cross – (Scottish Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan)
- John Slinger – (Labour MP for Rugby)
- Josh Fenton-Glynn – (Labour MP for Calder Valley)
- Lloyd Hatton - (Labour MP for South Dorset)
- Michael Shanks – (Scottish Labour MP for Rutherglen)
- Patrick Hurley - (Labour MP for Southport)
- Robert Jenrick – (Conservative MP for Newark)
- Tim Farron – (Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale)
- Tom Gordon – (Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough)
Peers
- Lord James Bethell (Con, 5th Baron Bethell)