Newly elected MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle explains his journey from Sussex to the corridors of power.

Ask Lloyd Russell-Moyle to name one of his earliest memories and he immediately recalls time he spent as a toddler at the University crèche.

It was his first tiny step into the academic world and where he began developing his love for all things Sussex.

“I’ve always felt very much part of the University”, the new Brighton Kemptown, MP says. “I was raised in the crèche, took part in performances in the ACCA while at secondary school, carried out my masters there and then worked, albeit briefly, as an organiser for the staff union. It’s somewhere I’ve always felt comfortable.”  

Lloyd, Brighton born and Lewes bred, has graduated at Sussex with a Masters in International Law. He studied over three years and praises the support he received as one of only two part time students on the course.

“During my masters I fought three public elections – for Lewes council in 2014, the Lewes constituency the year after and then Brighton Kemptown this May. I was also carrying out my duties as a Brighton & Hove City Councillor. 

“I always felt very supported by the University staff and especially by the Law school’s course co-ordinator Christine Turnbull, who was my life saver.”

This support was vital in helping Lloyd storm to victory in the recent general election where he ousted sitting MP Simon Kirby with an almost 10,000 majority – an increase of almost 20 per cent on Labour’s 2015 election vote.

Lloyd has told his constituents he will work hard to make sure “there is a future for your children, your health service and for your houses”.

And he is already speaking up for students in his role as an MP by putting a Parliamentary question to the Prime Minister on the Erasmus Programme.

“I negotiated with the EU on the Erasmus programme and I intend to hold this Government’s feet to the fire to secure funding for future generations and for our two local universities which use EU research grants.”

Lloyd says he will use the knowledge gained as a Sussex student in his Parliamentary work.

“The University has given me the ability to understand law and the details of different aspects of international law. I now have the tools to put that knowledge into practice,” the 30-year-old said.

Lloyd’s previous working life has been both varied and wide ranging. He’s worked nights at the Rainbow Pub, Lewes, at Tesco’s, East Sussex County Council, the United Nations and has been vice-president of the European Youth Forum.

He’s also worked for the National Youth Agency and was a member, deputy and Assistant Regional Coordinator of the UK Youth Parliament. He’s a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a former Chair and Vice-Chair of the Woodcraft Folk, an education movement based throughout Sussex and the UK.

Lloyd, whose first degree was Peace Studies at Bradford University, has also sat on the boards of a number of companies, educational establishments and programmes related to education, music and co-operation, including the British Youth Council and the Education Not for Sale Network, now co-operating with the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts.

But on June 8 this year Lloyd’s world changed dramatically, and his days are now filled with Parliamentary debates, committee meetings, party meetings, constituency issues and casework, and dealing with a news-thirsty media.

“It’s now my job to get on and represent the people of Brighton Kemptown and ensure their voices and their concerns are heard at the highest levels in Parliament.”