Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 29, 2026

Alex Ballinger

Alexander Robert Ballinger is a British Labour politician and former Royal Marine who has been the Member of Parliament for Halesowen since 2024. He gained the seat from James Morris, a Conservative.

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Jun 29, 2026
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Alex Ballinger
MP
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for Halesowen
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded byConstituency established
Majority4,364 (11.3%)
Personal details
BornAlexander Robert Ballinger
PartyLabour
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/service Royal Marines
Years of service
2005–2013
RankCaptain
UnitRoyal Marines

Alexander Robert Ballinger1 is a British Labour politician and former Royal Marine who has been the Member of Parliament for Halesowen since 2024. He gained the seat from James Morris, a Conservative.2

Career

Ballinger studied aerospace engineering at the University of Manchester before joining the Royal Marines in 2005, later reaching the rank of captain.23 He served on operations in Afghanistan, including deployments in 2006 and 2009, and has referred to a family tradition of military service and his deployment alongside his brother.4

After leaving the armed forces, Ballinger joined the Department for International Development (DFID) and led humanitarian and refugee operations during the Syrian civil war,567 before moving to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), working on Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas and later heading the UK’s mission in Lahore.8910 During the 2021 Afghanistan evacuation, he led a team assisting evacuations across the border into Pakistan.11

From 2023 to 2024, Ballinger ran a small mental health charity based in Birmingham and the Black Country.6

Parliamentary career

Ballinger was elected on 4 July 2024 with 38.9% of the vote.12

He was subsequently appointed a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee13  and has used both committee and chamber proceedings to press ministers on Gaza and humanitarian access to it.1415 In September 2025, it was reported that Ballinger told a Labour conference fringe meeting he believed Israel’s actions in Gaza “meet the conditions” for genocide.16

Ballinger has been active on defence and service life issues.17  He serves as chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces  and was appointed to the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill.18

Ballinger is co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gambling Reform,19 and was a leading voice calling for increasing taxation on online gambling companies, in order to fund the lifting of the two-child benefit cap.20

On 11 May 2026, he called on Keir Starmer to resign following the 2026 United Kingdom local elections.21

Constituency-linked issues

Ballinger has raised constituency-linked issues in Parliament, including leading a Commons debate on knife crime in the West Midlands. He has also campaigned for greater road safety in his constituency.222324   

In January 2026, he secured a Westminster Hall debate on the UK Town of Culture initiative; with multiple MPs referencing his “passionate pitch” for his area.25

References

References

  1. "Former Royal Marine standing to become Halesowen MP". Halesowen News. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  2. MP, Alex Ballinger. "Alex Ballinger MP". Alex Ballinger MP. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  3. Smith, Adam (13 February 2024). "Labour picks former Royal Marine to fight General Election in Halesowen". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  4. "Building Safety and Resilience - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  5. MP, Alex Ballinger. "Alex Ballinger MP". Alex Ballinger MP. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  6. "I'm a former marine-turned-Labour MP – Rachel Reeves is missing the point on defence". The Independent. 26 March 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  7. "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  8. "FCDO and ICIMOD collaborate with the Pakistan Ministry of Climate Change to generate data on brick industry emissions - ICIMOD". ICIMOD - International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. 10 March 2022. Archived from the original on 9 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  9. "The UK announces 75 scholarships for Pakistan". GOV.UK. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  10. "FCDO Team Visits LUMS | Welcome to LUMS". lums.edu.pk. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  11. MP, Alex Ballinger. "Alex Ballinger MP". Alex Ballinger MP. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  12. "UK Parliament - Election Results". committees.parliament.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  13. "Foreign Affairs Committee - Membership - Committees - UK Parliament". committees.parliament.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  14. "British MPs challenge 'outrageous' claims as legal adviser defends Israel and rejects Palestinian statehood". Middle East Monitor. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  15. "They Work for You - House of Commons Debate - Ref - HC Deb, 21 July 2025, c604". 21 July 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. Harpin, Lee. "Labour MP accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza at foreign policy conference event". Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  17. "Armed Forces Commissioner Bill - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  18. "House of Commons - Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups as at 1 December 2025: Armed Forces". publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  19. "Members". Gambling Reform APPG. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  20. Hills, Joel (25 September 2025). "ITV News - More than 100 Labour MPs urge Chancellor to hike gambling taxes and scrap two child benefit limit".
  21. Green, Daniel (11 May 2026). "Which Labour MPs are calling for Starmer to go - and who is still backing PM?". LabourList. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  22. "Campaign for more safety measures on killer road after death of beloved mum". Halesowen News. 8 October 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  23. Lawrie, Imogen (12 January 2026). "Political opinion: Alex Ballinger MP welcomes first Road Safety Strategy in over a decade". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  24. "MPs back calls for safety measures on death crash road". Stourbridge News. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  25. "UK Town of Culture - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
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