By Habeeb Ibrahim
Sam Carling, at just 22 years old, has been elected as the Labour MP for North West Cambridgeshire, making him the youngest member of the new Parliament.
His victory, announced shortly before 6am on Friday, July 5, followed a full recount, with Carling winning by a narrow margin of just 39 votes over the outgoing MP Shailesh Vara as reported by Cambridgeshire.
“It’s been a very long campaign and a very long night, but I’m extremely excited,” Carling said. “I’m very aware of the responsibility that people have put upon me, and I’m very grateful.”
He assured his constituents, “I promise you I will work as hard as I can to repay that trust. What we’ve seen here tonight is nothing short of a political earthquake.”
Carling’s win marks a significant shift in the political landscape, reflecting the rising influence of younger voices in British politics. His fresh perspective and youthful energy are expected to bring new ideas and approaches to Parliament.
In the previous election in 2019, Shailesh Vara retained the seat he had held since 2005 with 60% of the vote. Following his defeat, the Conservative candidate acknowledged the need for his party to “reflect very carefully” on the loss.
