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Dan Carden

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Dan Carden
MP
Official portrait, 2020
Member of Parliament
forLiverpool Walton
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 June 2017
Preceded bySteve Rotheram
Shadow portfolios
Shadow Secretary of State
2018–2020International Development
Shadow Minister
2020Financial Secretary
2018International Development
Majority20,245 (54.9%)
Personal details
Born
Daniel Joseph Carden

(1986-10-28)28 October 1986(age 37)
Liverpool,England
Political partyLabour
Alma materLondon School of Economics(BSc)
Websitewww.66prioryroad.co.uk

Daniel Joseph Carden(born 28 October 1986) is a BritishLabour Partypolitician who has served asMember of Parliament(MP) forLiverpool Waltonsince2017.[1]

Carden served asShadow Secretary of State for International Developmentfrom 2018 to 2020,[2]andShadow Financial Secretary to the Treasuryfrom April to October 2020.[3]He resigned from the latter role due to the disagreements with the party leadership over theCovert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill.[4]

Carden is a patron ofLGBT Labour,one of eightLGBTMPs newly elected in the2017 general election.[5][6]An avowedsocialist,he paid tribute to his predecessorEric Hefferin a memorial lecture in January 2019.[7]He is a former member of the Socialist Campaign Group parliamentary caucus but left the group in 2024.[8]

Early life and career

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Daniel Carden was born on 28 October 1986 inLiverpool.[9]His mother worked in theNHSfor over 40 years.[10]His father, Mike Carden, was a shop steward during theLiverpool dockers' disputeduring the 1990s, and was left unemployed for seven years after being sacked for refusing to cross a picket line. In his maiden speech, Carden recalled: “From the age of eight, I stood on picket lines, and I’m as proud to stand alongside workers in struggle today as an MP as I was then as a kid”.[11]

His secondary education was atSt Edward's CollegeinWest Derby,Liverpool, where he was the Head Boy.[12]He went on to study International Relations at theLondon School of Economics,graduating with a BSc, where he was also chair of the universityLabour Club.[13]

Prior to becoming an MP, Carden worked atUnite the Unionin the office of its General Secretary,Len McCluskey.[14]

Parliamentary career

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First term (2017–2019)

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In June 2017, Carden defeated Liverpool City MayorJoe Anderson,Theresa GriffinMEP and others to be selected by theNECto be selected as the Labour candidate forLiverpool Walton.[15]At the snap2017 general election,Carden was elected to Parliament as MP for Liverpool Walton with 85.7% of the vote and a majority of 32,551.[16][17][18]

In October 2017, Carden campaigned for a ban on LGBTconversion therapyafter a church in Anfield was exposed by aLiverpool Echoinvestigation for offering ritual starvation as a 'cure' for homosexuality.[19][20]In July 2018, the UK Government pledged to bring forward proposals for a legislative ban.[21][22]

Also in July 2018, Carden used two consecutivePrime Minister's Questionsto call for the newRoyal Liverpool Hospitalto be delivered in the public sector following the collapse ofCarillion.[23][24]On 25 September 2018, it was reported that the government would terminate thePrivate finance initiativedeal, taking the hospital into full public ownership.[25]

Shadow International Development Secretary

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On 1 December 2018, Carden was appointedShadow Secretary of State for International Developmentafter the resignation ofKate Osamor.[2]

In the run-up to the2019 General Election,Carden promised “the most radical international development policies ever seen in this country.”[26]He said Labour would turn theCDC Groupinto a green development bank and create a new Public Services Unit for water, healthcare and education.[27][28]Other policy plans included banning all aid spending on fossil fuels, support for trade unions globally, tripling funding for women's rights groups, introducing an ombudsman for abuse in aid sector and support for small-scale farmers with a Food Sovereignty Fund.[29]

Carden called for the UK to use its influence to democratise theIMFandWorld Bank,challenging the agenda of liberalising markets, cutting social spending and privatising public services “so the poorest countries can decide their own destiny”.[30]Alongside Shadow ChancellorJohn McDonnell,he proposed an Overseas Loan Transparency Act to establish a new compulsory register to put an end to exploitative secret loans to foreign governments.[31]At the time of theCOVID-19 pandemic,Carden called for the debts of countries in the Global South to be cancelled so that resources could go towards healthcare not debt repayments.[32][33]

At the2019 general election,Carden was re-elected as MP for Liverpool Walton with a decreased vote share of 84.7% and a decreased majority of 30,520.[34][35]

Second term (2019–2024)

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Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury

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On 9 April 2020, Carden becameShadow Financial Secretary to the Treasuryfollowing a reshuffle by new party leaderKeir Starmer.[3]In October, he accused the Conservative government of corruption in its handling of theCOVID-19 pandemic,highlighting public contracts handed toTory-linked firms without competition or transparency.[36][37]

Return to the backbenches

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On 15 October 2020, Carden resigned from Labour's front bench in order to vote against theCovert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill,defying the party's instruction to abstain.[38]In his resignation letter, he wrote: "As a Liverpool MP and trade unionist, I share the deep concerns about this legislation from across the labour movement, human rights organisations, and so many who have suffered the abuse of state power, from blacklisted workers to the Hillsborough families and survivors."[4]

Carden has become involved with theInter-Parliamentary Union.In March 2022, Carden delivered an address to the global assembly of parliamentarians inIndonesia.Referencing hisIrishheritage, he called on countries to accept more refugees and to reject "anti-migrant, racist rhetoric".[39][40]In November 2022, Carden became Treasurer of the British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.[41]On 12 March 2023, at the Inter-Parliamentary Union's 146th Assembly inManama, Bahrain,Carden was elected President of the Board of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians.[42]

In September 2023, Carden was appointedParliamentary Private Secretaryto theShadow Chancellor of the Exchequer,Rachel Reeves,afterSamantha Dixonleft the position to become a whip.[43]However, on 15 November 2023, Dan Carden was among 10 frontbench Labour MPs to resign their roles in order to vote in favour of a motion tabled by theSNPcalling for an immediate ceasefire inGaza,joining a group of 56 Labour MPs in defying the party's instruction to abstain.[44][45]

On 13 December 2023, Carden was appointedPrime Minister's Trade EnvoytoMexico.[46]

Third term (2024-)

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At the2024 general election,Carden was again re-elected with a decreased vote share of 70.6% and a decreased majority of 20,245.[47]

Alcohol addiction and recovery

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In July 2021, Carden revealed during a parliamentary debate that in his early twenties alcohol addiction had nearly killed him amid the pressure of coming to terms with his sexuality. In recovery since 2019, Carden credits his sobriety to the support of his family and friends, as well as the guidance of support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous.[48][49]

In 2021, Carden led a campaign to deliver the recommendations ofDame Carol Black’s Independent Review of Drugs, securing the largest ever investment for addiction treatment services.[50]He has also campaigned for measures such as minimum unit pricing and greater regulation of alcohol advertising.[51][52]Working withAlcohol Health Alliance UK,he has led calls for an Independent Review of Alcohol to inform a new Alcohol Strategy, highlighting that despite record alcohol-specific deaths, the UK has not published a strategy for tackling alcohol harm since 2012.[53]

Carden is an Ambassador for Adfam and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drugs, Alcohol and Justice.[54][55][56]

References

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  1. ^Thorp, Liam (11 May 2017)."We meet the 30-year-old who beat Mayor Anderson to contest Liverpool MP role".Liverpool Echo.Retrieved8 June2017.
  2. ^ab"Labour MP Kate Osamor resigns as shadow international development secretary".New Statesman.1 December 2018.Retrieved16 December2018.
  3. ^abRodgers, Sienna (9 April 2020)."Shadow ministers appointed as Starmer completes frontbench".LabourList.Retrieved9 April2020.
  4. ^abBurtenshaw, Ronan (15 October 2020)."Dan Carden Resigns from Labour Frontbench over CHIS Bill".Tribune.
  5. ^"Patrons".LGBT+ Labour.
  6. ^"The UK just elected a record number of LGBTQ people to Parliament".Pink News.
  7. ^Carden, Dan (27 January 2019)."Never a Yes Man".Tribune.
  8. ^Rogers, Sienna (7 May 2024)."The Labour Left under Keir Starmer: 'They're not just sealing the tomb but incinerating it'".The House.Retrieved7 May2024.
  9. ^"No. 61961".The London Gazette.19 June 2017. p. 11778.
  10. ^"Trade unionist Dan Carden selected in Liverpool Walton".Left Futures.10 May 2017.Retrieved10 June2017.
  11. ^"Dan Carden, maiden speech (full)".YouTube.13 September 2018.
  12. ^"Secondary education".
  13. ^"Dan Carden MP talks Parliament, Jeremy Corbyn and music venue closures".Getintothis.22 October 2018.
  14. ^"Unite aide wins selection for coveted Liverpool Walton seat".Labour List.9 May 2017.
  15. ^Thomas, Joe (9 June 2017)."Liverpool's new MP Dan Carden 'absolutely honoured'".Liverpool Echo.Retrieved9 June2017.
  16. ^"Liverpool, Walton - 2017 Election Results".General Elections Online.Retrieved20 December2017.
  17. ^Fitzgerald, Ged (11 May 2017)."Statement of persons nominated, notice of poll. Election of a Member of Parliament for the Liverpool Walton Constituency".Liverpool City Council.Archived fromthe originalon 2 January 2020.
  18. ^"Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis"(PDF)(Second ed.).House of Commons Library.29 January 2019 [7 April 2018].Archived(PDF)from the original on 12 November 2019.
  19. ^Parry, John (2 July 2018)."Parliament hears calls for ban on gay 'cure' therapies after ECHO investigation".Liverpool ECHO.
  20. ^"Hansard, Topical Questions Volume 629: debated on Monday 16 October 2017".
  21. ^Parry, John (3 July 2018)."Government moves to 'end' gay cure therapy after ECHO investigation".Liverpool ECHO.
  22. ^"LGBT Action Plan"(PDF).July 2018.
  23. ^"Liverpool Royal Hospital: MP calls for public ownership of stalled build".BBC.11 July 2018.
  24. ^Humphries, Jonathan (8 August 2018)."Liverpool's 'new' Royal hospital stands empty - how did it come to this and when will it finally be finished?".Liverpool ECHO.
  25. ^"Stalled Royal Liverpool Hospital to be publicly funded".BBC.25 September 2018.
  26. ^MP, Dan Carden (21 November 2019)."I'm proud of our section of the #LabourManifesto, with the most radical international development policies ever seen in this country..."
  27. ^McVeigh, Karen (21 November 2019)."Labour vows to make UK development bank a champion of climate justice".The Guardian.Retrieved20 December2019.
  28. ^Carden, Dan (7 August 2019)."People, not profit".Fabians.Retrieved20 December2019.
  29. ^"2019 Labour Manifesto".The Labour Party.Archived fromthe originalon 22 December 2019.Retrieved20 December2019.
  30. ^@DanCardenMP (11 April 2019)."To end global poverty we must change the rules of a failed economic system..."(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  31. ^"A Labour Government Will Not Ignore The Global Debt Crisis".Huffington Post UK.17 June 2019.Retrieved20 December2019.[permanent dead link]
  32. ^Carden, Dan (25 March 2020)."The British government has abandoned the Global South to coronavirus".Open Democracy UK.
  33. ^@DanCardenMP (1 April 2020)."We must go beyond aid and charity in supporting countries in the Global South"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  34. ^"Liverpool Walton parliamentary constituency - Election 2019".BBC News.Retrieved20 December2019.
  35. ^"Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis"(PDF).London:House of Commons Library.28 January 2020.Archived(PDF)from the original on 18 November 2021.Retrieved31 August2022.
  36. ^"Hansard, Local Contact Tracing Volume 682: debated on Wednesday 14 October 2020".
  37. ^Carden, Dan (9 December 2020)."Obscene profiteering and cronyism has been the hallmark of the government's response to Covid".Politics Home.
  38. ^Rodgers, Sienna (15 October 2020)."Dan Carden quits Labour frontbench over 'spycops' bill".LabourList.
  39. ^Thorp, Liam (28 March 2022)."Liverpool MP Dan Carden rails against 'anti-migrant, racist rhetoric' as he urges support for refugees".Liverpool Echo.Retrieved29 March2022.
  40. ^"Dan Carden speech at the 144th Inter-Parliamentary Union".Dan Cardens's official Youtube channel.25 March 2022.
  41. ^"Officers - BGIPU".10 August 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 10 August 2023.Retrieved29 January2024.
  42. ^Nimmo, Rick (16 March 2023)."BGIPU member Dan Carden MP elected President of Forum of Young Parliamentarians".BGIPU.Retrieved29 January2024.
  43. ^""Labour has a new top team."".Samantha Dixon MP.Retrieved29 January2024.
  44. ^"How did my MP vote on Gaza ceasefire?".BBC News.16 November 2023.Retrieved29 January2024.
  45. ^"Rishi's Rwanda Plan B".POLITICO.16 November 2023.Retrieved29 January2024.
  46. ^"Prime Minister's Trade Envoy programme appointments".GOV.UK.Retrieved29 January2024.
  47. ^Liverpool Walton
  48. ^"'Choose to live': Dan Carden's emotional speech about alcohol addiction – video ".The Guardian.1 July 2021.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved5 May2023.
  49. ^"Hansard: Pride Month debate".
  50. ^Adu, Aletha (26 October 2021)."MP who battled alcohol addiction demands £1.78billion for treatment services".mirror.Retrieved5 May2023.
  51. ^Chappell, Elliot (18 November 2021)."Labour MP with history of alcohol addiction calls for minimum unit pricing".LabourList.Retrieved5 May2023.
  52. ^"MPs debate alcohol labelling".Alcohol Health Alliance.Retrieved5 May2023.
  53. ^"MPs, Lords and over 50 organisations and experts write to the Prime Minister calling for an independent review on alcohol harm".Alcohol Health Alliance.Retrieved5 May2023.
  54. ^"Dan Carden MP becomes Adfam Ambassador".Adfam.14 July 2021.Retrieved5 May2023.
  55. ^"Drugs, Alcohol and Justice APPG".parallelparliament.co.uk.Retrieved5 May2023.
  56. ^DDN (30 May 2022)."Visible Recovery".Drink and Drugs News.Retrieved5 May2023.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament forLiverpool Walton
2017–present 		Incumbent
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