Baby of the House

Baby of the House is the unofficial title given to the youngest member of a parliamentary house. The term is most often applied to members of the British parliament.

Contents

Australia

In Australia the term is rarely used. Most MPs and Senators are elected usually only in their thirties and later but some prominent MPs have been elected rather early in life including Prime Ministers Malcolm Fraser and Paul Keating who were both elected at age 25 in 1955 and 1969 respectively. The current Baby of the House is Wyatt Roy (age 21) and the current Baby of the Senate is Sarah Hanson-Young (age 28).[1] The age for candidacy has been lowered in Australia from 25 to 18.

Canada

The youngest-ever elected member of the Canadian House of Commons is Pierre-Luc Dusseault, who was elected at the age of 19 years and 11 months in 2011. Dusseault is the youngest MP in Canadian history.[2] In the past, MPs such as Pierre Poilievre, Andrew Scheer, Claude-Andre Lachance, and Lorne Nystrom have also held the distinction.

The previous youngest current MP was Nicolas Dufour, to represent the riding of Repentigny, Quebec for the Bloc Québécois; born in June 1987, elected at 21 years and 4 months in age. The youngest current female MP is Laurin Liu, NDP MP for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, Québec.[3]

Republic of Ireland

In the Republic of Ireland the term is rarely used, as most TDs are elected usually only in their thirties and later. The current baby of the Dáil is the 24 year-old Fine Gael deputy Simon Harris (Wicklow). The youngest TD of all time was William J. Murphy, elected aged 21 years 29 days; the youngest female TD was Kathleen O'Connor, 21 years 7 months.

List of Babies of the Dáil

Elected Name Constituency Party Age
1943 Flanagan, Oliver J.Oliver J. Flanagan Laois–Offaly Fine Gael 23
1948 Blaney, NeilNeil Blaney Donegal East Fianna Fáil 26
1949 Murphy, William J.William J. Murphy Cork West Labour Party 21
1951 Costello, DeclanDeclan Costello Dublin North West Fine Gael 24
1956 O'Connor, KathleenKathleen O'Connor Kerry North Clann na Poblachta 21
1957 Hogan, BrigidBrigid Hogan Galway South Fine Gael 24
1958 Millar, AnthonyAnthony Millar Galway South Fianna Fáil 23
1961 Allen, LorcanLorcan Allen Wexford Fianna Fáil 21
1965 Foley, DesmondDesmond Foley Dublin County Fianna Fáil 24
1969 Bruton, JohnJohn Bruton Meath Fine Gael 22
1975 Geoghegan-Quinn, MáireMáire Geoghegan-Quinn Galway West Fianna Fáil 24
1975 Kenny, EndaEnda Kenny Mayo West Fine Gael 24
1977 de Valera, SíleSíle de Valera Dublin County Mid Fianna Fáil 23
1979 Barry, MyraMyra Barry Cork North East Fine Gael 22
1981 Yates, IvanIvan Yates Wexford Fine Gael 21
1984 Cowen, BrianBrian Cowen Laois–Offaly Fianna Fáil 24
1987 Coughlan, MaryMary Coughlan Donegal South West Fianna Fáil 21
1995 Fox, MildredMildred Fox Wicklow Independent 24
1997 Naughten, DenisDenis Naughten Longford–Roscommon Fine Gael 24
2002 English, DamienDamien English Meath Fine Gael 24
2007 Creighton, LucindaLucinda Creighton Dublin South East Fine Gael 27
2011 Harris, SimonSimon Harris Wicklow Fine Gael 24

New Zealand

Like Australia, the term "Baby of the House" is rarely used. "Youngest MP" is the usual term

The current Baby of the House is Jami-Lee Ross of the National Party, who was elected to Parliament in the Botany by-election on 5 March 2011, aged 25.

Youngest MPs in the New Zealand House of Representatives
Name Electorate Party Date of Birth Entered Parliament Age
Moore, MikeMike Moore Eden Labour 01949-01-28 28 January 1949 01972-11-25 25 November 1972 23
Waring, MarilynMarilyn Waring Raglan National 01952-10-07 7 October 1952 01975-11-29 29 November 1975 23
Hughes, DarrenDarren Hughes Ōtaki Labour 01978-04-03 3 April 1978 02002-07-27 27 July 2002 24
Ardern, JacindaJacinda Ardern (List) Labour 01980-07-26 26 July 1980 02008-11-08 8 November 2008 28
Hughes, GarethGareth Hughes (List) Green 01981-10-31 31 October 1981 02010-02-11 11 February 2010 28
Ross, Jami-LeeJami-Lee Ross Botany National 01985-12-10 10 December 1985 02011-03-05 5 March 2011 25

United Kingdom

Becoming the Baby of the House is regarded as something of an achievement despite the lack of any special treatment that comes with the title. For example, Jeffrey Archer incorrectly claimed to have been the youngest MP at the time of his election. However, some MPs who have held the position for a considerable period — Matthew Taylor was the Baby of the House for over ten years — have found it somewhat embarrassing, as it may suggest that they have a lack of experience, although a perusal of the list shows that many babies in fact went on to enjoy long, significant and distinguished parliamentary careers. From August 1999 to September 2001, all three of the leaders of the main political parties had been the youngest MPs in the party when they began their political career (William Hague, Tony Blair, Charles Kennedy).

Of those whose age can be verified, the youngest MP since the Reform Act of 1832[4] was James Dickson who was elected as a Liberal at a by-election for the Borough of Dungannon on 25 June 1880. He was born on 19 April 1859 and so was aged 21 years 67 days. The youngest female MP was Bernadette Devlin, elected on 17 April 1969 from Mid Ulster aged 21 years 359 days. The age of candidacy for Parliament was lowered from 21 to 18 by the Electoral Administration Act of 2006.

In more recent times, the oldest Baby at first election is Sarah Teather, elected in 2003 aged 29 years 109 days.

List of Babies of the House of Commons

Elected Name Constituency Party Age
1880 (b) Dickson, JamesJames Dickson Dungannon Liberal 21
1885 Levy-Lawson, HarryHarry Levy-Lawson St Pancras West Liberal 22
1888 (b) Gordon-Lennox, Lord WalterLord Walter Gordon-Lennox Chichester Conservative 22
1890 (b) Harrison, HenryHenry Harrison Mid Tipperary Irish Parliamentary 22
1891 (b) Cavendish, VictorVictor Cavendish West Derbyshire Conservative 23
1891 (b) Smith, FrederickFrederick Smith Strand Conservative 23
1892 Curran, Thomas BartholomewThomas Bartholomew Curran Kilkenny City Irish National Federation 22
1895 Milton, ViscountViscount Milton Wakefield Liberal Unionist 22
1898 (b) Scott, Bt, Sir SamuelSir Samuel Scott, Bt Marylebone West Conservative 24
1898 (b) Hill, ArthurArthur Hill West Down Conservative 24
1900 Rigg, RichardRichard Rigg Appleby Liberal 23
1904 (b) Turnour, ViscountViscount Turnour Horsham Conservative 21
1906 Wodehouse, LordLord Wodehouse Mid Norfolk Liberal 22
1910 Mills, Charles ThomasCharles Thomas Mills Uxbridge Conservative 22
1910 Wolmer, ViscountViscount Wolmer Newton Liberal 23
1912 (b) Sassoon, Bt, Sir PhilipSir Philip Sassoon, Bt Hythe Conservative 23
1915 (b) Esmonde, JohnJohn Esmonde North Tipperary Irish Parliamentary 21
1916 (b) Whitty, Patrick JosephPatrick Joseph Whitty North Louth Irish Parliamentary 21
1917 (b) Stanley, LordLord Stanley Liverpool Abercromby Conservative 22
1918[5] Sweeney, Joseph AloysiusJoseph Aloysius Sweeney West Donegal Sinn Féin 21
1919 (b) Harmsworth, EsmondEsmond Harmsworth Isle of Thanet Coalition Conservative 21
1922 Evans, ArthurArthur Evans Leicester East National Liberal 24
1923 Rhys, CharlesCharles Rhys Romford Conservative 24
1924 Lucas-Tooth, HughHugh Lucas-Tooth Isle of Ely Conservative 21
1929 (b) Lee, JennieJennie Lee North Lanarkshire Labour 24
1929 Owen, FrankFrank Owen Hereford Liberal 23
1931 Robinson, RolandRoland Robinson Widnes Conservative 24
1933 (b) Willoughby de Eresby, LordLord Willoughby de Eresby Rutland and Stamford Conservative 25
1935 (b) Taylor, CharlesCharles Taylor Eastbourne Conservative 24
1935 Macmillan, MalcolmMalcolm Macmillan Western Isles Labour 22
1940 (b) Profumo, JohnJohn Profumo Kettering Conservative 25
1941 (b) Grey, George CharlesGeorge Charles Grey Berwick-upon-Tweed Liberal 22
1944[6] Profumo, JohnJohn Profumo Kettering Conservative 29
1945 (b) Millington, ErnestErnest Millington Chelmsford Common Wealth 29
1945 Carson, EdwardEdward Carson Isle of Thanet Conservative 25
1948 (b) Jenkins, RoyRoy Jenkins Southwark Central Labour 27
1950 Baker, PeterPeter Baker South Norfolk Conservative 28
1950 (b)[7] Benn, TonyTony Benn Bristol South East Labour 25
1950 (b) Teevan, ThomasThomas Teevan Belfast West Ulster Unionist 23
1951[8] Benn, TonyTony Benn Bristol South East Labour 26
1954 (b) Eden, JohnJohn Eden Bournemouth West Conservative 28
1954 (b) Woollam, JohnJohn Woollam Liverpool West Derby Conservative 27
1955[9] Clarke, PhilipPhilip Clarke Fermanagh and South Tyrone Sinn Féin 21
1955[9] Kirk, PeterPeter Kirk Gravesend Conservative 27
1956 (b) Kimball, MarcusMarcus Kimball Gainsborough Conservative 27
1957 (b) Cooke, RobertRobert Cooke Bristol West Conservative 26
1958 (b)[10] de Ferranti, BasilBasil de Ferranti Morecambe and Lunesdale Conservative 28
1958 (b) Wolrige-Gordon, PatrickPatrick Wolrige-Gordon East Aberdeenshire Conservative 23
1959 (b) Channon, PaulPaul Channon Southend West Conservative 23
1964 Taylor, TeddyTeddy Taylor Glasgow Cathcart Conservative 27
1965 (b) Steel, DavidDavid Steel Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles Liberal 26
1966 John RyanJohn Ryan Uxbridge Labour 25
1967 (b) Huckfield, LesLes Huckfield Nuneaton Labour 24
1969 (b) Devlin, BernadetteBernadette Devlin Mid Ulster Unity 21
Feb 1974 Elis-Thomas, DafyddDafydd Elis-Thomas Merioneth Plaid Cymru 27
Oct 1974 Hayman, HélèneHélène Hayman Welwyn and Hatfield Labour 25
1977 (b) MacKay, AndrewAndrew MacKay Birmingham Stechford Conservative 27
1979 (b) Alton, DavidDavid Alton Liverpool Edge Hill Liberal 28
1979 Dorrell, StephenStephen Dorrell Loughborough Conservative 27
1981 (b)[11] Sands, BobbyBobby Sands Fermanagh and South Tyrone Anti H-Block 27
1981[6] Dorrell, StephenStephen Dorrell Loughborough Conservative 29
1981 (b)[11] Carron, OwenOwen Carron Fermanagh and South Tyrone Anti H-Block 28
1983 Kennedy, CharlesCharles Kennedy Ross, Cromarty and Skye Social Democrat 23
1987 (b) Taylor, MatthewMatthew Taylor Truro Liberal 24
1997[12] Leslie, ChrisChris Leslie Shipley Labour 24
2000 (b) Lammy, DavidDavid Lammy Tottenham Labour 27
2003 (b) Teather, SarahSarah Teather Brent East Liberal Democrat 29
2005 Swinson, JoJo Swinson East Dunbartonshire Liberal Democrat 25
2009 (b) Smith, ChloeChloe Smith Norwich North Conservative 27
2010 Nash, PamelaPamela Nash Airdrie and Shotts Labour 25

United States

Main article: List of youngest members of the United States Congress

While the term is used in the Commonwealth Parliaments, Baby of the House/Senate is not in general contemporary use in the United States, nor does being the youngest member guarantee special treatment in either house of Congress.

Members of the U.S. Congress tend to be older than parliamentarians elsewhere in the English-speaking world, a main factor being that the minimum ages for members of Congress is written into Article One of the United States Constitution, which forbids persons under the age of 25 from serving in the House and persons under the age of 30 from serving in the Senate.

Since the 111th Congress, which began on January 6, 2009, the youngest member of the United States House of Representatives has been Aaron Schock (R-IL 18) who was born on May 28, 1981 (1981-05-28) (age 30) and was elected in 2008. The second youngest member is Justin Amash (R-MI 3) who was born on April 18, 1980 (1980-04-18) (age 31), and was elected in 2010.

Currently the youngest U.S. Senator is Mike Lee (R-UT) who was born on June 4, 1971 (1971-06-04) (age 40) and was elected in 2010. Marco Rubio (R-FL), the second-youngest, was born on May 28, 1971 (1971-05-28) (age 40), only one week older than Lee.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Barrett, R. (2010), "Dad says nation's youngest MP Wyatt Roy 'won't sit there quietly'". The Australian, 23 August 2010, Page 9.
  2. ^ Banerjee, Sidhartha (May 4, 2011). "19-year-old sets record as youngest MP; NDPer planned summer job at golf course". The Canadian Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jUl1uDN-GKNu-YJoilCwUIlOokLQ?docId=6744237. 
  3. ^ Members of the House of Commons - Average Age.
  4. ^ Prior to 1832 minors could be elected; precise information on those MPs is often unclear.
  5. ^ Joseph Aloysius Sweeney did not take his seat; the youngest MP actually sitting in the House of Commons was Oswald Mosley (Conservative, aged 22).
  6. ^ a b Became the youngest MP for a second time, on the death of the previous youngest MP.
  7. ^ Tony Benn was first elected at the Bristol South East by-election, 1950, aged 25, the day after Thomas Teevan, who was aged 23, but Benn took the oath the day before Teevan, and so was Baby of the House for a single day.
  8. ^ Tony Benn became the youngest MP again after the 1951 general election, on the defeat of Teevan.
  9. ^ a b Elected on an abstentionist ticket, Philip Clarke did not take his seat. Peter Kirk was first elected at the 1955 general election, when he became the youngest MP to take his seat, but only became the youngest MP with the disqualification of Philip Clarke later in the year.
  10. ^ Basil de Ferranti was the youngest MP for 15 days between his taking his seat after the Morecambe by-election and Patrick Wolrige-Gordon taking his seat after the East Aberdeenshire by-election. (source).
  11. ^ a b Elected on an abstentionist ticket, Bobby Sands and Owen Carron did not take their seats; Stephen Dorrell remained the youngest MP actually sitting in the House of Commons.
  12. ^ Although several sources claim Claire Ward was the youngest MP during this period, she was 50 days older than Chris Leslie.

References