Elliot Colburn
Elliot Haydn George Colburn (born 6 August 1992) is a British former politician who represented the Conservative Party as Member of Parliament for Carshalton and Wallington from 2019 to 2024.[1][2] A lifelong resident of the constituency, born at St Helier Hospital and educated at Carshalton Boys school, Colburn worked in the local National Health Service prior to his election, focusing on community health campaigns.[1] He secured a narrow victory in the 2019 general election with a majority of 629 votes but was defeated by Liberal Democrat Bobby Dean in 2024, receiving 12,221 votes.[3][4] Colburn, an openly gay Conservative, has advocated for LGBT+ issues within his party and supported equal gay rights in parliamentary votes, diverging from some party colleagues.[5][6] Prior to Parliament, he served as a local councillor and engaged in community roles, including as a Scout leader and trustee for Community Action Sutton.[1] His parliamentary tenure included contributions on local issues such as NHS improvements at St Helier Hospital, public transport enhancements, and environmental protections.[1] In February 2024, during Prime Minister's Questions, Colburn publicly disclosed his attempted suicide in 2021, attributing it partly to death threats and isolation, earning cross-party recognition for raising mental health awareness and urging those in crisis to seek help.[7][8][9] Following his electoral defeat, he joined the Samaritans as Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager, continuing work in suicide prevention.[1][10]