MP Thangam Debbonaire became the Member of Parliament for the Bristol West constituency in May 2015. She won the seat in the December 2019 election for the third time with a vote of 47,028 – the highest of any constituency in the UK. She is the first BAME MP for Bristol. She was Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport between January 2016 and June 2016; and in October 2016 she rejoined the shadow front bench when she was appointed a Labour Whip – a role she was proud to hold until April 2020. Since April 2020, she has held the position of shadow Secretary of State for Housing and Homelessness.
Thangam has actively campaigned in Parliament on a range of other topics. She has previously chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Refugees and founded the APPG on Children and Young People with Cancer. Before becoming an MP, Thangam worked to end domestic violence, moving to Bristol in 1991 to work for Women’s Aid.
Thangam has also worked as a professional cellist. She continues to play with a classical quartet with three women working in and around Parliament.