Josh MacAlister
Josh MacAlister | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families | |
| Assumed office 7 September 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Janet Daby |
| Member of Parliament for Whitehaven and Workington | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Majority | 13,286 (31.7%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 1987 (age 38) |
| Party | Labour |
| Spouse | Matthew Hood |
| Website | joshmacalister |
Joshua MacAlister[1] OBE (born March 1987) is a British Labour politician and former teacher who has been Member of Parliament for Whitehaven and Workington since 2024.[2][3] He has served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families since 2025.[4]
Early life and education
MacAlister's father worked as a social worker.[5]
MacAlister attained an MA (Hons) in politics and social policy at the University of Edinburgh. MacAlister served as President of the Edinburgh University Students’ Association.[6] In 2008, he unsuccessfully contested the Presidency of the National Union of Students Scotland.
MacAlister also studied for, and received, a masters degree in leadership in education at the University of Manchester.[7]
Professional life
Education
MacAlister trained as a teacher through the Teach First Programme and went on to teach citizenship for three and a half years at schools in Oldham.[8]
During his time as a teacher, MacAlister began to engage with young people with experience of the care system. These experiences led MacAlister to establish Frontline, a graduate social worker training programme modelled on Teach First, in 2013.[5] The first cohort began their training the following year.[7]
In 2019, the Department for Education provided Frontline with £45 million in funding.[9]
Independent Review of Children's Social Care
In January 2021 MacAlister stepped down from his role at Frontline in order to chair an independent review of children's social care.[9] MacAlister's appointment was criticized by some social work academics who questioned whether he could be impartial given that Frontline had received central government funding.[9]
In June 2021, the review published its interim findings. In October 2021 the review published a second report in response to the feedback received on the interim report. The final report of the review was published in May 2022.[10]
Awards
MacAlister was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the King's 2023 New Year's Honours for services to vulnerable children.[11]
Member of Parliament
In June 2023, MacAlister was selected as the Labour Party's candidate for the newly created constituency of Whitehaven and Workington.[12]
At the 2024 general election, MacAlister was elected as the Member of Parliament for Whitehaven and Workington. MacAlister was elected with 53% of the vote and a majority of over 13,000 votes.[13]
Personal life
In 2023 MacAlister joined his local mountain rescue team.[14] In July 2024, shortly after being elected as an MP, MacAlister was called out to a mountain rescue.[15]
In 2024, PinkNews listed him as an out LGBTQ+ parliamentarian.[16] He is married to educationalist Matthew Hood.[17]
References
- ^ "Members Sworn". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 752. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 10 July 2024.
- ^ "Whitehaven and Workington | General Election 2024". Sky News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Jenkinson, Lucy (5 July 2024). "Josh MacAlister elected as first MP for Whitehaven and Workington". News and Star. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Ministerial appointments: September 2025". GOV.UK. 2025-09-11. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ^ a b Brindle, David (11 September 2013). "Frontline founder: 'Social work needs life-changing professionals'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Dickinson, Jim (1 July 2024). "The former student leaders entering Parliament". Wonkhe. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Josh MacAlister". IPPR. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Whittaker, Freddie (14 July 2025). "Profile: Josh MacAlister | MP for Whitehaven and Workington". Schools Week. Archived from the original on 4 August 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
- ^ a b c Proctor, Kate (22 January 2021). "A Row Has Broken Out Over The Independence of a Major Review Into Children in Care". Politics Home. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Foster, David; Lewis, Anastasia (18 November 2022). "The independent review of Children's social care: Debate Pack" (PDF). House of Commons Library. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Dempsey, Bridget (30 December 2023). "Frontline founder recognised in New Year's Honours List for 2024". Whitehaven News. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ "Josh MacAlister selected as Labour parliamentary candidate". Social Work News. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ "Labour seizes Cumbria winning five of six seats". BBC News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Edwards, Lucy (2 February 2023). "Cumbrian man behind £200 million plan to fix children's social care". Cumbria Crack. Barrnon Media. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Bedendo, Federica (11 July 2024). "MP Josh MacAlister called to Cumbria mountain rescue after election win". BBC News. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Reynolds, Andrew (5 July 2024). "Number of out LGBTQ+ MPS falls following election". Pink News. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ Dickens, John (2 October 2019). "Matt Hood to leave Ambition Institute role". Schools Week. Education Scape. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
External links
