Laura Elizabeth Kyrke-Smith (born 15 September 1983) is a British politician, academic and charity worker who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Aylesbury since 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she is the first Labour MP for Aylesbury as well as the first female MP to represent Aylesbury in the House of Commons.[1]
Biography
Kyrke-Smith was born on 15 September 1983 to Peter St. L Kyrke-Smith and Lyndsay Madeleine Pelly.
Kyrke-Smith was state educated before attending Robinson College, Cambridge, from 2002 to 2005, where she read history and volunteered with the charity Student Action for Refugees.[2] She then went on to study for an MSc in international relations at the London School of Economics (LSE), graduating in 2007.[3]
From 2007 to 2009, Kyrke-Smith was a Speechwriter and Assistant Policy Analyst at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. She was a Speechwriter to Ministers of State for Africa, Asia, the UN and Human Rights, Mark Malloch Brown and Glenys Kinnock, and Assistant Policy Analyst in the Strategy Unit focused on Africa and conflict issues.
From January 2010 to December 2015, Kyrke-Smith was a Partner at Portland Communications, running the philanthropy service. She then became Director of Communications of the International Rescue Committee, before becoming UK Executive Director in November 2019, a role she held until her election in July 2024.
In the 2024 general election, Kyrke-Smith stood as the Labour candidate for the constituency of Aylesbury. She gained the Aylesbury seat from Rob Butler, a member of the Conservative Party. Her victory ended a century streak of Conservative and Unionist MPs in Aylesbury, starting in the 1924 general election.
In September 2024, Kyrke-Smith was appointed to the role of Labour's National Health Mission Delivery Champion.[9] She is also a member of the International Development Committee.[10]
She has raised in Parliament issues affecting Aylesbury constituency residents – from improving local infrastructure to improving GP appointment access,[11] and getting better support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.[12]
