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Luke Charters

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Luke Charters
MP
BERJAYA
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for York Outer
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded byJulian Sturdy
Majority9,391 (18.4%)
Personal details
Born (1995-08-18) 18 August 1995 (age 30)
PartyLabour
EducationHuntington School, York
(MSc)
Websitelukecharters.co.uk

Luke Jonathan Charters[1] (born 18 August 1995) is a British Labour politician elected as Member of Parliament for York Outer in the general election held on 4 July 2024.[2]

Early life and career

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Early life and education

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Charters was born on 18 August 1995 in York, North Yorkshire, England.[3] He was educated at Huntington School, a comprehensive school in York. He studied philosophy, politics, and economics at Mansfield College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 2016.[3] He then studied political science at the University of Chicago,[4][5] graduating with a Master of Science (MSc) degree in 2017.[3]

Career

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Before his political career, Charters worked at the Bank of England and at the Financial Conduct Authority with a focus on fraud.[6] While at the Bank of England, Charters helped with the polymer banknote programme and contributed to the development of new payment infrastructure projects.[7] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Charters stated that he collaborated with the CEOs of several banks to ensure readily available access to cash.[6]

Charters subsequently worked in the fintech industry as a senior manager at the global payroll company Remote and led their fraud and compliance function.[8] In 2021, Charters founded Roots, a cocktail bar in East Village in London.[9]

Parliamentary career

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Charters first stood for election for York Outer (as Luke Charters-Reid) as the Labour candidate in the 2017 general election, when he was 21, coming second to the Conservative Party's incumbent MP Julian Sturdy.[10][11] Charters was subsequently elected as a councillor for the Wall End ward on Newham London Borough Council in 2022 prior to standing in York Outer.[12] He stepped down from the council in 2023.[3]

During the 2024 general election, Charters campaigned on several issues, including the regulation of the bailiff sector,[13] flood defences for York,[14] planning reform,[15] eating disorders in young men,[16] and removing restrictions on investing in UK defence companies.[17] Charters has also campaigned for the creation of a national anti-fraud centre.[18]

Elected with 45% of the vote, a positive swing of 15%, Charters temporarily appointed Labour donor Owen Trotter to set up and run his first parliamentary office.[19][20][21] On 17 July 2024, he made his maiden speech in the House of Commons in the debate following the King's Speech[22] and was elected as the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Food Security.[23]

In October 2024, Charters was elected to the Public Accounts Committee.[24] Previously, Charters served on the Crown Estate Bill Committee.[25] In November 2024, Charters voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which proposes to legalise assisted suicide.[26] He called for a rail line to be named after Alan Turing.[27] He called for capping ticket prices and alcohol as part of football reform.[28]

In March 2025, Charters held a Westminster Hall debate on "aggressive and unregulated bailiff practices".[29] Later that month, Charters supported government reforms of the existing "cliff-edge welfare system"[30] and was one of 36 signatories in an open letter of support for improving disabled employment support.[31] In May 2025, Charters introduced a Private Members' Bill for the regulation of bailiffs[32] "to get a grip on rogue bailiffs",[33] and proposed looking at the ban on alcohol during men's football matches.[34] Charters also serves as the current chair of the FinTech All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).[35]

In June 2025, Charters announced that he would be the first male MP to take extended parental leave and employ his office manager as locum during paternity leave.[36] This followed a campaign for improving UK paternity leave[37][38] that was backed by multiple MPs and the Women and Equalities Committee.[39]

Political positions

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Charters was appointed as a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Business and Trade in September 2025.

Student Loans

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On the 7th January 2026, Charters put forward a Private Members’ Bill which called for a review of maintenance payment schedules for student loans. In his speech, he referred to the current student loans system as “a Frankenstein’s monster” and called Plan 2 loans a "mis-selling scandal waiting to unfold" for graduates. The speech started a national conversation about student debt with significant media coverage, and the bill tabled by Charters was endorsed by the National Union of Students, and numerous students unions across England. [40]

3UP

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Additionally, Charters became one of the most vocal MPs supporting the National League’s #3UP Campaign on social media, advocating for the EFL to allow three promotion spots from the National League into League Two. As a York City supporter, Charters joined the campaign alongside Rochdale MP, Paul Waugh, with both sides amassing over 100 points in the 2025-2066 National League Season.[41]

Youth Triple Lock

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In May 2026 Charters called for a “youth triple lock” policy which is aimed at supporting the finances of 18–30-year-olds. The proposed policy includes a transport guarantee for under-21s, an Early Career Savings Guarantee Tax and a Rent-to-Own Pathway for over-25s.[42]

Constituency work

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Haxby Post Office

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In his home constituency, after a year of campaigning, a new Post Office in Haxby reopened following calls from Charters for a new site to be found. Charters also successfully negotiated an extension to the original Post Office before it closed, and a temporary service in the interim.[43]

Resignation as Parliamentary Private Secretary

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On 22 May 2026, Charters resigned as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Business Secretary Peter Kyle.[44] He did not call on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign but did cite the poor 2026 local election results. This came following several other resignations from Ministers and Parliamentary Private Secretaries.[45]

Endorsement of Andy Burnham

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Charters was one of the first Labour MPs to endorse Andy Burnham to become the next Prime Minister.[46][47]

Personal life

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Charters has a wife and two children.[5][48] They named their first son after his religious studies teacher at Huntington School.[49] They had their second son in summer 2025.[48] The family live in his own constituency with two pets.[50]

References

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  1. ↑ "Members Sworn". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 752. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 10 July 2024.
  2. ↑ "York Outer | General Election 2024". Sky News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Charters, Luke, (born 18 Aug. 1995), MP (Lab) York Outer, since 2024". Who's Who 2025. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  4. ↑ Glenton, Kevin (25 May 2024). "Luke Charters launches York Outer general election campaign". York Press. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  5. 1 2 Lewis, Haydn (6 July 2024). "York Outer Labour MP Luke Charters sets out agenda". York Press. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Meet Luke Charters – the fraud expert who is York Outer's new MP". Yorkshire Post. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  7. ↑ "Luke Charters | ABI". www.abi.org.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  8. ↑ "House of Commons – The Register of Members' Financial Interests (4 August 2024: Charters, Mr Luke )". publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  9. ↑ "A new community cocktail bar plants its Roots in East Village". 30 March 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  10. ↑ Prest, Victoria (3 May 2017). "Labour names 21-year-old Luke Charters-Reid as York Outer candidate". York Press. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  11. ↑ Prest, Victoria; Ross, Alex (9 June 2017). "GENERAL ELECTION 2017: Conservatives hold York Outer with reduced majority – Julian Sturdy backs Theresa May to continue as PM". York Press. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  12. ↑ Latif, Sheeza. "Local Elections 2022". Newham Council. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  13. ↑ "Regulation of the Bailiff Sector – Hansard – UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 5 February 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  14. ↑ "Flooding – Hansard – UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 5 February 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  15. ↑ "Responsibilities of Housing Developers – Hansard – UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 5 February 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  16. ↑ "Eating Disorder Awareness – Hansard – UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 5 February 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  17. ↑ Baker, Alex; Charters, Luke (6 March 2025). "Finance for Ukraine: Scrap regulations that ban investment in defence". City AM. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  18. ↑ "York MP calls for measures to tackle fraud as constituent loses £10,000". York Press. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  19. ↑ "York MP Luke Charters defends giving job to Labour donor". YorkPress. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  20. ↑ "York MP defends appointment of donor who gave £55K to the Labour Party". YorkMix. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  21. ↑ "Register of Interests – House of Commons". Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  22. ↑ Mr Luke Charters (17 July 2024). "Debate on the Address". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 752. United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 122–124.
  23. ↑ "York's newest MP elected chair of parliamentary group". York Press. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  24. ↑ "Parliamentary career for Mr Luke Charters – MPs and Lords – UK Parliament". members.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  25. ↑ "Crown Estate Bill [HL] – Summary – Committees – UK Parliament". committees.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  26. ↑ "Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Second Reading". Votes in Parliament. 29 November 2024.
  27. ↑ "York MP calls for rail route be named after Alan Turing". www.bbc.com. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  28. ↑ "Labour MP Calls For Capped Ticket Prices And Alcohol On Terraces As Part Of Football Reform". Politics Home. 28 April 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  29. ↑ "Luke Charters MP speaks out on rogue bailiffs". 13 March 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  30. ↑ Gerrard, Joe (24 March 2025). "York MP defends his support for £5bn cuts to disability benefit". YorkMix. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  31. ↑ "York MP signs controversial letter calling for 'hard choices' over benefit cuts". York Press. 14 March 2025. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  32. ↑ "Regulation of Bailiffs". Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  33. ↑ "Regulation of Bailiffs". Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  34. ↑ "York Outer MP urges rethink on football stands alcohol ban". BBC News. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  35. ↑ "APPG FinTech". 5 February 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  36. ↑ "I'm a dad first, an MP second". 12 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  37. ↑ "York MP tells the Prime Minister that he's expecting another baby and asks about paternity leave". Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  38. ↑ "Two weeks of paternity leave is just too little for the 21st Century". Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  39. ↑ "Government's review must address 'fundamental failings' in UK's parental leave system, WEC warns". Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  40. ↑ https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/26006852.luke-charters-york-outer-mp-welcomes-student-loan-rate-cap/ https://news.sky.com/story/call-for-monthly-student-loan-payments-backed-by-dozens-of-labour-mps-13491611 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g2kxjg1e1o
  41. ↑ https://x.com/lukejcr/status/1990397508871233670
  42. ↑ https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/plan-triple-lock-under-30s-how-work-4407677?srsltid=AfmBOoqXgOAEav8p4GHYoTQ9J0as5oedsQCWo7X3A1TbUcmgRktcvN3o
  43. ↑ https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/25983319.haxby-post-office-former-dutch-nurseries-store-open/
  44. ↑ Backhouse, Abby (22 May 2026). "Luke Charters MP resigns from position - saying Labour should be 'bolder'". York Press. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  45. ↑ Backhouse, Abby (27 May 2026). "'Something needs to change' - York MP on ministerial aide resignation". York Press. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  46. ↑ https://x.com/lukejcr/status/2057499013029498943?s=46
  47. ↑ https://x.com/lukejcr/status/2062642794997461461?s=46
  48. 1 2 "York MP welcomes new baby after making House of Commons history". YorkMix. 7 July 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  49. ↑ "'My a-Maze-ing first weeks as York Outer's first Labour MP' – Luke Charters". York Press. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  50. ↑ "About Me - Luke Charters MP". LukeCharters.co.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
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