Liz Twist

Mary Elizabeth Twist (born 10 July 1956) is a British Labour Party politician. She served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Blaydon from the 2017 general election until the seat's abolition in 2024. She then stood for reelection during the 2024 general election in the newly formed constituency of Blaydon and Consett which she won. Before her parliamentary career, she was the head of health in the North-East for the trade union, UNISON, and a local councillor.

Early life and career

Twist was born in July 1956 in St Helens, Lancashire. She attended the Notre Dame High School (now De La Salle School, St Helens) and studied at Aberystwyth University. Twist worked as a local government archivist. She worked as a trade union official for UNISON and became their head of health in the North-East.

She credits her grandfather's activism in the National Union of Mineworkers as her inspiration to enter politics.

Political career

Twist was elected as a Labour Party councillor for Ryton, Crookhill & Stella ward in the Gateshead Council in 2012. She was the cabinet member for housing on the council. Twist was re-elected in 2016.

She was elected as MP for Blaydon in the 2017 general election with a majority of 13,477 (28.0%) votes. The seat has been represented by a Labour MP since 1935. Twist had worked in the constituency office of the previous MP David Anderson who chose to stand down for personal and health reasons. In parliament, she sits on the Commons Select Committee on Standards, and the Commons Select Committee of Privileges since February 2019. Twist was a member of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee between September 2017 and May 2019.

Twist supported the United Kingdom (UK) remaining within the European Union (EU) in the 2016 UK EU membership referendum. In the indicative votes on 27 March 2019, she voted for a referendum on a Brexit withdrawal agreement, for the Norway-plus model, and for a customs union with the EU.

She supported Emily Thornberry in the 2020 Labour leadership election.

She was appointed Shadow Scotland Minister in the November 2021 British shadow cabinet reshuffle. In the 2023 British shadow cabinet reshuffle she returned to the backbenches.

She returned to the frontbench on 27 November 2023 as Shadow Minister for Local Government and Services, after the previous Shadow Minister, Sarah Owen, resigned to vote against the Labour Party whip on a motion to back a ceasefire in Gaza.

In the 2024 general election, she successfully contested the newly named constituency of Blaydon and Consett.

In October 2024, Twist faced calls to resign from her post as chair of the board of trustees at Age UK Gateshead following government changes to the Winter Fuel Payment. These came after she voted in the Commons to support Reeves's fuel payment restrictions. One of the constituents said "Given she wistis a North East MP, representing one of the poorest parts of the country, I feel it’s very hypocritical for her to hold this position and it's disappointing that she did not vote against the removal of the Winter Fuel Payment". Age UK said it was "advocating against the government's decision". On 30 October 2024, Twist resigned, saying it was "because of the consistent pressure being placed on the charity by a number of people".

Personal life

She is a widow. Twist disclosed in her maiden parliamentary speech in 2017 that her husband had died of suicide, and called for action on suicide prevention. She volunteers for the charity Samaritans. She lives in Ryton in her constituency.

References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Twist, Liz
1956 births
Living people
Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies
People from St Helens, Merseyside
UK MPs 2017–2019
UK MPs 2019–2024
UK MPs 2024–present
21st-century British women politicians
21st-century English women
21st-century English politicians
Alumni of Aberystwyth University