Age of MPs in the UK Parliament 1979-2019
Following the 2017 general election there were 197 Members of Parliament (MPs) elected to the United Kingdom’s House of Commons who were aged between 50 and 59 years of age, the most numerous age group that year. Since 2001, this age group has been the most numerous in Parliament although there has also been an increase in younger MPs, aged between 18 and 29, and those aged over 70 years old.
‘Father of the House’
The Conservative MP, Kenneth Clarke is the longest-serving member of the House of Commons, having been originally sworn in as an MP after the 1970 election, just before Labour MP Dennis Skinner. Margaret Beckett has been an MP since the 1983 General Election, making her the longest serving female MP.
The older house
As of 2017, the United Kingdom’s upper house, the House of Lords had 306 members who were aged between 70 and 79 as well as a further 122 who were in their eighties, and 13 who were aged over 90. By contrast, there were only two lords who were under the age of 40, making it a much older age composition that the House of Commons.
‘Father of the House’
The Conservative MP, Kenneth Clarke is the longest-serving member of the House of Commons, having been originally sworn in as an MP after the 1970 election, just before Labour MP Dennis Skinner. Margaret Beckett has been an MP since the 1983 General Election, making her the longest serving female MP.
The older house
As of 2017, the United Kingdom’s upper house, the House of Lords had 306 members who were aged between 70 and 79 as well as a further 122 who were in their eighties, and 13 who were aged over 90. By contrast, there were only two lords who were under the age of 40, making it a much older age composition that the House of Commons.
