UK MPs - 2015 Parliament

[Phony Moderate]

This is something I sort of started doing five years ago (someone else first did it a few years prior to that) but abandoned it for whatever reason. Basically this will go through the MPs alphabetically, one per day. That's all.........actually no. That would be as boring as feck. What I would encourage is other posters providing info and comments on each (if they can...given the high number of SNP nonentities...). I will also do so (again, where I can).
 

First up is....

Diane Abbott (Labour - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)

A well-known name to kick this off, thankfully. First elected in 1987 (along with Bernie Grant and Paul Boetang - also left-wing black Londoners) it is fair to say that she enjoys the media spotlight, having appeared regularly on the This Week sofa since 2003 (though less frequently since 2010) alongside Michael Portillo. Occasionally her tendency to express her views bluntly has backfired on both her and the party. Had a minor role in the Shadow Cabinet during the previous Parliament after contesting the leadership in 2010. One of the few remaining Campaign Group MPs. Currently seeking the Labour candidacy for Mayor of London.

[Phony Moderate]

Debbie Abrahams (Labour - Oldham East and Saddleworth)

Elected in 2011 in the first by-election of the previous Parliament, which was held following the previous MP Phil Woolas's...issues.

[Phony Moderate]

Nigel Adams (Conservative - Selby and Ainsty)

zzz

[Phony Moderate]

Adam Afriyie (Conservative - Windsor)

I suppose it is a sign of progress that Windsor is represented by a black man. He's one of the leading Eurosceptic 'bastards' IIRC.

[Phony Moderate]

At the rate this thread is going, we will hit the next General election before we get to anywhere near the end of the alphabet.

Yeah, the 2017 snap election (if I keep to one per day).

[Phony Moderate]

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh (SNP - Ochil and South Perthshire)

One of the more visible members of the SNP intake. Has been a member of the Labour and Conservative Parties in the past.

[Phony Moderate]

Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)

Would almost certainly have lost his seat in May had the polls been right.

[Phony Moderate]

Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)

[Phony Moderate]

Rushanara Ali (Labour    - Bethnal Green and Bow)

Was a candidate for the Deputy Leadership but withdrew after it became clear that she did not have the numbers to make the ballot.  

[Phony Moderate]

Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)

What about her?

I don't have anything to say about her; I was hoping someone else would.

[Phony Moderate]

Lucy Allan (Conservative - Telford)

One of the worst results of the night from my POV. Particularly shocking as a fairly long-term incumbent MP in David Wright was standing.

Also, cheers Al.

[Phony Moderate]

Graham Allen (Labour   - Nottingham North)

A former whip. Opposed the Iraq War. His election in 1987 was actually a Labour gain. Got a good result in May (consistent with many English big city seats).

[Phony Moderate]

Heidi Allen   (Conservative - South Cambridgeshire)

New MP, safe seat. Zzzz

[Phony Moderate]

David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)

Perhaps more famous as the MP for Basildon (which, facing certain defeat, he fled from in 1997); his declaration famously came through early on election night in 1992 and his hold symbolised the Tory victory. Also campaigned against a fictional drug called 'cake' and occasionally rebels against his party on certain issues (hunting being an example).

[Phony Moderate]

David Anderson   (Labour - Blaydon)   

One of the MPs who signed the anti-austerity letter to Ed Miliband, so presumably on the left of the party.

[Phony Moderate]

Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Pudsey)

Another Tory who benefited electorally from being a one-termer.

[Phony Moderate]

Caroline Ansell (Conservative - Eastbourne)

One of the luckier Tory gains; the Lib Dems, despite losing, presumably benefited from having a one-term incumbent...a theme is developing here.

[Phony Moderate]

Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)

That's a very Tory name isn't it?

His seat is one of those that is clearly safe but still gives Labour a respectable vote.

[Phony Moderate]

Richard Arkless (SNP - Dumfries and Galloway)

One of the more impressive SNP gains.

[Phony Moderate]

Jon Ashworth (Labour/Co-operative - Leicester South)

Won the seat in a by-election during the previous Parliament after the previous MP Sir Peter Soulsby ran (successfully) for Mayor.

[Phony Moderate]

Victoria Atkins (Conservative - Louth and Horncastle)

I doubt she'll be there as long as her predecessor was. 

[Phony Moderate]

Victoria Atkins (Conservative - Louth and Horncastle)

I doubt she'll be there as long as her predecessor was. 

I agree with you, 44 years in Parliament (39 consecutive years) is a long tenure for any MP! Can't see Atkins going anywhere anytime soon though.

54 - 1959-1964 and 1966-2015.

[Phony Moderate]

Ian Austin   (Labour - Dudley North)

Former PPS to Gordon Brown. Elected in 2005, he's been met with a Tory underperformance all three times.

[Phony Moderate]

Richard Bacon (Conservative - South Norfolk)

Right-winger who is dovish on foreign policy (voted against the Iraq War, against action in Syria etc).

[Phony Moderate]

Adrian Bailey (Labour - West Bromwich West)

Contested four parliamentary elections and one European election in the 1970s, losing them all. Finally elected to the slightly amusingly named West Bromwich West in 2000. His constituency seems to always give a respectable vote to right-of-the-Tories parties; the NF did well there in the 1970s - most notably in the 1973 by-election for the predecessor seat of West Bromwich (in which future Speaker Betty Boothroyd was elected) when they got (if I'm not mistaken) their highest ever share in a Westminster election of 16% or so. The National Democrats also broke 10% in 1997; presumably some Tories didn't think Boothroyd was right-wing enough. More recently the BNP have done relatively well and UKIP scored 25% this year.

Interestingly, Bailey's first-ever defeat was to the well-known Tory right-winger Gerald Nabarro.