Chris Elmore

Christopher Philip James Elmore (born 23 December 1983) is a Welsh Labour Party politician who is Member of Parliament (MP) for Bridgend since 2024, and previously that of Ogmore from 2016 to 2024. He has been Comptroller of the Household (Government Whip) since 10 July 2024.

Early life and career
Christopher Elmore was born on 23 December 1983 in Newport and lived in Brynmawr and Caerphilly as a child.

He started his working life as a trainee butcher and later attended Cardiff Metropolitan University completing a degree in History and Culture in 2005. Elmore then worked in a number of professions including further education.

In 2008, Elmore was elected as a councillor for Casteland in the Vale of Glamorgan Council. Later he was appointed as a cabinet member for children's services and schools.

Parliamentary career
Elmore stood as the Labour candidate in Vale of Glamorgan at the 2015 general election, coming second with 32.6% of the vote behind the incumbent Conservative MP Alun Cairns.

At the 2016 Ogmore by-election, Elmore was elected to Parliament as MP for Ogmore with 52.6% of the vote and a majority of 8,575.

In June 2016, Elmore joined the Justice Select Committee; he joined the Welsh Affairs Select Committee the following month. In October 2016, he was appointed to the frontbench position of Opposition whip.

He supported Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 Labour Party leadership election.

While an MP, Elmore has particularly focused on issues that impact young people, often speaking in parliament and elsewhere on the subject. Youth engagement was an issue on which Elmore had previously campaigned as a councillor.

At the 2017 general election, Elmore was re-elected as MP for Ogmore with an increased vote share of 62.4% and an increased majority of 13,871.

In 2017, Elmore was elected as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Rail in Wales. He has been a vocal opponent of the government's 2017 decision to cancel the planned electrification of the Great Western Mainline between Cardiff and Swansea. He has campaigned on issues including passenger safety.

Elmore was re-elected at the 2019 general election, with a decreased vote share of 49.7% and a decreased majority of 7,805.

In April 2020, Elmore was made Shadow Minister for Scotland by new Labour Party leader Keir Starmer. In this role he supported Ian Murray, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland. He was also made a senior Opposition whip as a Shadow Lord Commissioner of HM Household.

Elmore is a member of Labour Friends of Israel.

Following the boundary changes of 2024, the Ogmore constituency was abolished. In June 2024, Elmore was selected as the Labour candidate for Bridgend at the 2024 general election.