Sam Townend for Bristol North West

Sam Townend was born on 4th April 1975 at Waltham Forest and is Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for the Bristol North West constituency, where sitting MP Doug Naysmith is retiring at the next election. He is married to Tamara, a radiologist, and presently divides his time between his home in Henleaze, Bristol, and his home in London, where his current work is based.

He was educated at Latymer state school (Edmonton) and studied History at Cambridge University. He is currently a practising barrister specialising in building and engineering law. Until recently he was an elected member of the Bar Council.

Having joined the Labour Party in 1996 he stood as a parliamentary candidate for Reigate in 2005. He was elected as a Councillor of Lambeth in 2006 until his resignation in order to concentrate his political activities solely in Bristol.  He was the first ever Deputy Cabinet Member for the Young People of Lambeth.

During his legal career he helped to run the Free Representation Unit which provides free advocacy services for applicants to tribunals (e.g. employment & social security) for which legal aid is unavailable. He is also a founder member of the Pupil Barristers’ Association, set up to advocate for better conditions for the apprentice branch of the profession and is currently the Secretary of the Society of Labour Lawyers.