About Chris 

I have been the Member of Parliament for Ogmore since May 2016 when I was elected in a by-election. I have lived in South Wales all of my life and currently reside in Brynmenyn with my wife and son.

Prior to taking Parliamentary Office I worked in a number of roles in Further Education, office management, public affairs and prior to being elected as MP for Ogmore, I served as a full time County Councillor and Cabinet Member leading on Education and Children’s Social Services until 2016 in the Vale of Glamorgan. From 2013 to 2016 I served as an independent member of the Cardiff and Vale Health board. A fact that many will not know is that I originally started out in life working as a butcher!

It’s been an absolute pleasure to meet the many community groups and residents the length and breadth of the constituency that I call home and I continue to relish taking up the issues that matter to you all year round.

Ogmore is abundant with local community groups and organisations of which I am a member of the following:

• Maesteg Musical Theatre Society (Vice President)
• Mid Glamorgan Mixed Choir (Patron)
• Cor Merched Cwm Llynfi (Vice President)

APPG Work

In addition to my shadow frontbench and select committee responsibilities, I am also a member of a number of  APPGs in Parliament that cover a multitude of issues:

• Coalfields (Officer)
• Rwanda (Vice Chair)
• Japan (Vice Chair)
• Greece (Vice Chair) 
• Pensions (Vice Chair)
• Food and Drink (member) 
• Rural Business (Vice Chair)
• Spain (Vice Chair)
• Veterans 
• Gaps in Support 
• Wales in the World (Vice Chair)
• PICTFOR (Vice Chair)

My roles and responsibilities in Parliament 

I undertake the role of Senior Opposition Whip as part of Labour’s Front Bench. As an Opposition Whip, I am involved with the business and legislation of the House. Since July 2022 I have fulfilled the role of Vice-Chair of the UK Labour Party.

From December 2021 to July 2022 I served as Labour’s Shadow Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure.

From October 2016 to 2020 I served as a member of the Opposition Front Bench as an Opposition Whip. From April 2020 to December 2021 I served as Shadow Minister for Scotland.

I currently sit on the Procedure Select Committee, which is a crucial committee that is responsible for the smooth running of business in the House. During the Coronavirus pandemic, I have worked closely with colleagues in helping to facilitate hybrid proceedings and worked to ensure that MPs were able to participate virtually in the Commons.