Ian Mearns was elected as Labour MP for Gateshead in 2010, being reelected in 2019 with a majority of 7,200.
The constituency of Gateshead lies along the south banks of the River Tyne opposite the city of Newcastle. A compact largely working class seat, Gateshead has been held by Labour ever since the Second World War. It has one of the largest Jewish communities in the north east of England.
Born in Newcastle in April 1957, Mearns previously worked for Northern Gas. He was elected to Gateshead Council between 1983 and 2010.
He was previously Chair of the Campaign for a North East Assembly and a member of the North East Constitutional Convention Steering Group.
Mearns sits on the left of the Labour Party. He backed Rebecca Long-Bailey in the 2020 Labour leadership election, and was critical of those within the party who were opposed to Jeremy Corbyn during his time as Labour leader.
Ian Mearns is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Parental Participation in Education, the Teaching Profession, Housing in the North, Foster Care Work, Football Supporters, and Rail in the North.
He is Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups for Mutuals, Nursery Schools, Football, Deafness, Business Travel, Renters and Rental Reform, Hadrians Wall, Mexico, British Jews, Greyhounds, and Road Freight.
He is a long standing Newcastle United fan.
Email: ian.mearns.mp@parliament.uk
Personal Website: www.ianmearns.org.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/IanMearnsMP
