A newly elected 22-year-old MP, who secured his seat with a slim margin, has expressed that he doesn't want his age to be the focal point as he begins his political journey in Westminster.

Sam Carling, representing Labour, is expected to hold the distinction of “baby of the House” – a longstanding informal title given to the youngest member of Parliament. He won North West Cambridgeshire by defeating veteran Conservative MP Shailesh Vara by just 39 votes.

A science graduate student at Cambridge University, Mr. Carling described his win as a “political earthquake” and expressed hope that more young people would run for office.

“When young people see themselves reflected, both in Parliament and on local councils, it will encourage political engagement and reduce apathy,” he remarked.

Previously, Keir Mather, another Labour MP and fellow Oxford University graduate, held the “baby of the House” title after winning the Selby and Ainsty by-election in 2023.

Having already served as a councillor in Cambridge, Mr. Carling shared that many voters were initially taken aback when they learned of his candidacy, but emphasized that “the reaction at the doorstep was overwhelmingly positive.”

“People said, ‘This is great—we definitely need more youth representation.’”

Despite some negativity towards younger individuals online, Carling noted that in personal interactions, “people were genuinely excited to meet a young candidate.”

However, he remains firm that his age shouldn't define him.

“We need to move beyond this fixation on a person's age. From my perspective, younger individuals are no different from anyone else. I’m here to focus on the work at hand,” he stressed.

Mr. Carling explained that his interest in politics developed only recently, as he began to recognize a link between social and economic decline, and “decisions made in Westminster.”

Raised in a rural town in the northeast of England, which he described as “a very deprived area,” Carling reflected on the hardships he witnessed growing up.

“Shops that used to thrive are now empty, while the local high street has become a wasteland. Even our sixth form closed down. But at the time, I didn’t connect these issues with politics,” he explained.

In his constituency, which covers much of Peterborough, he noted that the new Labour government faces numerous challenges, describing it as “a microcosm of the country.”

Among his priorities are addressing the shortage of dentists and overworked NHS staff, as well as tackling the urgent need to improve rural transportation.

Mr. Carling expressed curiosity about how his generation will respond to this new chapter in British politics.

“Many people have only really known Conservative rule,” he pointed out.

“I believe we can offer a strong alternative, drive transformative change, and hopefully inspire more young people to get involved in politics,” he concluded.

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