Andrew Pakes (born 24 April 1973 as Andrew Stone) is a British Labour Party politician, and a former President of the National Union of Students (NUS).
Pakes grew up in Newport Pagnell, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. He was educated at Ousedale School, before going on to the University of Hull where he completed a Bachelor's degree in Politics and a Master's degree in Environmental Management. He was the first person from his family to enter higher education. An active member of Labour Students, he was on the national executive of the National Union of Students from 1996-2000 and was twice elected the National President of NUS, serving in the role from 1998-2000. He had previously served as the organisation's National Treasurer from 1997-1998.[1] Pakes was the second openly gay individual to be elected NUS President after Stephen Twigg (who was President from 1990-92).[2]
After his term as NUS President, Pakes worked for the Association of University Teachers (AUT, now part of the University and College Union), and for the then-Deputy Mayor of London Nicky Gavron. He currently works as a consultant on environmental and transport policy, and is Chair of the Socialist Environment and Resources Association (SERA, a Labour-linked environmental campaign).[3] He is also a member of the Labour Party's National Policy Forum, representing the affiliated socialist societies. He was a Councillor in the London Borough of Southwark from 2006 to 2010, standing down in that year to contest the Milton Keynes North parliamentary seat.
Pakes stood as the Labour and Co-operative parliamentary candidate in the constituency of Milton Keynes North at the 2010 general election,[4] where he was defeated by the Conservative Party candidate Mark Lancaster.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Douglas Trainer |
President of the National Union of Students 1998–2000 |
Succeeded by Owain James |
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