Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 9, 2026

John Slinger

John Anthony Slinger is a British Labour politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Rugby since 2024.

Last revised
Jul 9, 2026
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≈ 2 min
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John Slinger
MP
Official portrait, 2026
Member of Parliament
for Rugby
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded byMark Pawsey
Majority4,428 (9.1%)
Personal details
BornJanuary 1975 (age 51)
Manchester, England
PartyLabour
Durham University

John Anthony Slinger (born January 1975)1 is a British Labour politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Rugby since 2024.23

Life and early career

Slinger was born in Manchester, and grew up in Gloucestershire. He joined the Labour Party in 1992 at the age of 17. He studied at Durham University and was formerly a partner at strategic communications company Consulum, founded by former employees of lobbying firm Bell Pottinger.456 According to his LinkedIn page,7 he has also worked for Tony Blair Associates, as a researcher for Ann Clwyd and Julia Drown, and was in rock bands in Leeds.

Slinger moved to Rugby in 2006, and became a governor of Northlands Primary School and a trustee of Warwickshire Young Carers. He later served as a councillor on Rugby Borough Council, representing the ward of New Bilton. He was selected as Labour's candidate for Rugby in 2023.8

Parliamentary career

Slinger was elected in the 2024 election, winning the seat from the Conservatives, with a majority of 4,428. He became the first Labour MP to represent Rugby since Andy King, between 1997 and 2005.3

In April 2024, Slinger was appointed as the UK Government's Trade Envoy to South Korea.9 In September 2025, he was the only Labour MP to speak in an emergency debate on the Mandelson/Epstein scandal.10 In June 2026, he called for a full contest in the leadership election following the resignation of Keir Starmer.11

References

References

  1. "Company appointments". Companies House. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  2. "Rugby - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  3. "Labour wins Rugby constituency from Conservatives". Rugby Observer. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  4. "John Slinger". LinkedIn. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  5. "About me". John Slinger for Rugby. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  6. Waterson, Jim (30 June 2020). "Hong Kong government hires London PR firm to improve image". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  7. "John Slinger". LinkedIn.
  8. "Borough Councillor selected as Labour's parliamentary candidate for Rugby". Rugby Observer. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  9. "Honoured to have been appointed as the United Kingdom's Trade Envoy to the Republic of Korea. The role is unpaid and voluntary, and the UK Trade Envoy programme has cross-party membership from both… | John Slinger | 45 comments". LinkedIn. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  10. Nicholson, Kate (16 September 2025). "1 Labour MP Tried To Defend Starmer Amid The Mandelson Saga – But Was Instantly Shredded". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  11. Hoyle, Craig; Hadfield, Charlotte; Zeffman, Henry (22 June 2026). "Keir Starmer holds meeting with Andy Burnham for first time since Makerfield by-election". BBC News. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
External links