| Chris Elmore | |
| Honorific-Suffix: | MP |
| Office1: | Comptroller of the Household |
| Primeminister1: | Keir Starmer |
| Term Start1: | 10 July 2024 |
| Predecessor1: | Rebecca Harris |
| Office2: | Shadow Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure |
| Leader2: | Keir Starmer |
| Term Start2: | 4 December 2021 |
| Term End2: | 22 July 2022 |
| Predecessor2: | Office established |
| Successor2: | Stephanie Peacock |
| Office3: | Shadow Minister for Scotland |
| Leader3: | Keir Starmer |
| Term Start3: | 9 April 2020 |
| Term End3: | 4 December 2021 |
| Predecessor3: | Paul Sweeney |
| Successor3: | Liz Twist |
| Office4: | Member of Parliament for Ogmore |
| Term Start4: | 5 May 2016 |
| Term End4: | 30 May 2024 |
| Predecessor4: | Huw Irranca-Davies |
| Successor4: | Constituency abolished |
| Office5: | Member of Parliament for Bridgend |
| Term Start5: | 4 July 2024 |
| Predecessor5: | Jamie Wallis |
| Birth Name: | Christopher Philip James Elmore |
| Birth Date: | 23 December 1983[1] |
| Birth Place: | Newport, Wales, UK |
| Party: | Welsh Labour |
| Alma Mater: | Cardiff Metropolitan University |
Christopher Philip James Elmore (born 23 December 1983)[1] is a Welsh Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bridgend, previously Ogmore, since 2016. He has been Comptroller of the Household (Government Whip) since 10 July 2024.[2]
Christopher Elmore was born on 23 December 1983 in Newport and lived in Brynmawr and Caerphilly as a child.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6] [7] [8]
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.[9]
In June 2016, Elmore joined the Justice Select Committee; he joined the Welsh Affairs Select Committee the following month.[10] In October 2016, he was appointed to the frontbench position of Opposition whip.[11]
He supported Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 Labour Party leadership election.[12]
While an MP, Elmore has particularly focused on issues that impact young people, often speaking in parliament and elsewhere on the subject.[13] Youth engagement was an issue on which Elmore had previously campaigned as a councillor.[14]
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.[15] [16] [17]
In 2017, Elmore was elected as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Rail in Wales.[18] 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.[19]
Elmore was re-elected at the 2019 general election, with a decreased vote share of 49.7% and a decreased majority of 7,805.[20] [21]
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.[22] [23]
Elmore is a member of Labour Friends of Israel.[24]
Due to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, Elmore's constituency of Ogmore was abolished, and replaced with Bridgend.[25] At the 2024 general election, Elmore was elected to Parliament as MP for Bridgend with 39.9% of the vote and a majority of 8,595.[26]