David Baines

David Edward Baines (born 25 June 1979^[1]) is a British Labour Party politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for St Helens North since 2024.^[2]

David Baines MP
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament for St Helens North
Incumbent
Assumed office 4 July 2024
Preceded by	Conor McGinn
Deputy Mayor of the Liverpool City Region
In role June 2023 – July 2024
Succeeded by	Mike Wharton
Leader of St Helens Council
In office 22 May 2019 – 15 May 2024
Succeeded by	Anthony Burn
Personal details
Born	(1979-06-25) 25 June 1979 (age 46)
Political party	Labour

Early life and education

Baines grew up in Haydock.^[3] He worked as a school teacher before going into politics.^[4]

Political career

He was elected as a St Helens Council councillor for the Windle ward in 2013, having previously worked as a primary school teacher.^[5] In 2019, he became leader of St Helens Council, and later Deputy Mayor of the Liverpool City Region^[6] before standing down in 2024 ahead of his general election campaign, having been selected as the Labour candidate for St Helens North.^[7]

In the 2024 General Elections, Baines was elected as MP for St Helens North with 21,284 votes (52.6%) and a majority of 12,169 over the second place Reform UK candidate.^[3][8] On 26 July 2024, he made his maiden speech in the House of Commons during a debate on "Making Britain a Clean Energy Superpower".^[4]