Jim Dickson (politician)

Jim Dickson (born 16 January 1964) is a British Labour Co-op politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dartford since 2024. He was also Leader of Lambeth Council between 1994 and 2000.

At the 2024 general election, Dickson defeated Gareth Johnson of the Conservative Party in the traditionally bellwether seat, having previously worked and campaigned in the area over the last two decades.

Early life and career
Dickson was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire, and Jesus College, Cambridge, where he read Social and Political Sciences. Whilst at Cambridge he was elected as Chair of the Cambridge University Labour Club.

From 1989, Dickson worked for the London Housing Unit as a Senior Policy Officer for ten years.

In 1998 he was a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Westminster until 2000.

Between 2000 and 2003 he worked as an Associate for Weber Shandwick.

He previously worked for the consultancy firm Four Communications as Politics Director. He is a member of the Association of Professional Political Consultants.

Political career
Dickson was first elected as a Councillor for Herne Hill in the 1990 Lambeth London Borough Council election, and he became the Leader of Lambeth Council in 1994.

At the 2001 General Election he was Labour's candidate in Old Bexley and Sidcup.

Dickson has held various cabinet positions on the Lambeth Borough Council (such as Voluntary and Community Sectors, Finance and Health and Social Care).

He was leading Lambeth's Labour Group when it was praised as being "more New Labour than New Labour" by former Prime Minister Tony Blair. He is a member of Progressive Britain.

At the 2024 General Election, Dickson was elected on a platform of supporting new affordable housing projects, 'Taking Pride in Dartford' and the construction of a new Lower Thames Crossing in order to ease traffic strains in the area.