About Simon

Simon Lightwood is the Labour and Co-operative MP for Wakefield and Rothwell.

He was first elected the MP for Wakefield in a by-election held on 23 June 2022 with a majority of 4,925 (17.9%) winning the seat back for the Labour Party, following the resignation of the disgraced Conservative MP, Imran Ahmad Khan.

In Parliament he has campaigned on a wide range of issues, including bus services, NHS dentistry and antisocial behaviour in line with the priorities he set out in his election campaign.

In October 2022 he was asked to join the Labour’s front bench as a Shadow Transport Minister, which included responsibility for buses, taxis and coaches.

In September 2023 he was re-appointed as the Shadow Minister for Local Transport with an expanded portfolio to include buses, taxis, light rail, active travel, future of transport and Transport For London.

Simon was re-elected for the new constituency of Wakefield and Rothwell on 4 July 2024 with a majority of 9,246 (22.9%). He was then invited by the new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, to serve as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Transport.

Prior to being elected, Simon was a proud NHS worker and was previously a Labour councillor and cabinet member for public health.

He studied theatre acting at Bretton Hall College in Wakefield, after moving to the city in the late nineties. He bought his first home and met his husband whilst living in Wakefield.

Simon lives in Wakefield with his husband and their two young children. He is a proud Wakefield Trinity fan.