Chris Evans

Chris Evans is the Labour and Co-operative MP for Islwyn, and is currently a member of the Petitions Committee and the Speaker’s Advisory Committee on Works of Art. Having worked as a bookmaker and a trade union official, Evans has always been active in the Labour party (which he joined aged 15), serving as youth office and ward secretary. He stood for his first council seat aged 19, before working as a parliamentary researcher to the then Islwyn MP, Don Touhig, who he replaced in 2010. After his election to the Commons, Evans joined the Justice Select Committee, and in 2012 was made parliamentary private secretary to the then shadow environment secretary, Mary Creagh. The following year he became parliamentary private secretary to the then shadow chief secretary, Chris Leslie. Evans has spoken out on issues such as affordable lending and payday loans, fuel poverty and energy price rises, and on dangerous dog legislation. In 2013, he launched the Islwyn Work Experience Programme in order to help combat local youth unemployment, working with 200 businesses to offer 6-8 week work placements. Evans nominated Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership in 2020.