Who is Damien Egan? Cork-born British politician wins seat in UK by-election

Damien Egan was born in Co Cork and his family moved to Bristol in the UK when he was still a child

Newly elected Labour MP Damien Egan at a photocall after being declared winner in the Kingswood by-election.

Newly elected UK Labour MP Damien Egan overturned a Conservative majority to win the Kingswood by-election on Thursday night.

Mr Egan won 44.9% of the vote on a disastrous night for British prime minister Rishi Sunak who suffered a double defeat, with the Tories also losing a seat in the Wellingborough by-election.

The Kingswood seat that now belongs to Mr Egan was vacated when Conservative MP Chris Skidmore resigned in protest at UK government legislation to boost North Sea oil and gas drilling.

Mr Egan was born in Co Cork and his family moved to Bristol in the UK when he was still a child.

Here, the family experienced homelessness and lived in temporary accommodation something which Mr Egan said has shaped his political views. It also led him to become a parish councillor when he was 21.

After moving to London, he was elected as a councillor in Lewisham.

Mr Egan stood as a Labour Party candidate in both the 2005 and 2010 general elections finishing third of seven candidates each time.

He was elected Mayor of Lewisham in 2018 with 54% of the vote and retained his position in the 2022 election. He stepped away from the position on January 9 of this year to run his by-election campaign.

He moved back to Kingswood and now represents the area where he grew up.

Last year, he was chosen as Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for the new seat of Bristol North East which is to be established at the next general election following boundary changes.

The seat that Mr Egan won last night is due to be abolished at the next general election.

Speaking after his victory, Mr Egan said that it means a huge amount to be able to represent the community he comes from.