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, from which the term originated.[1] The title is named after the Father of the House, which is given to the longest-serving member of the British and other parliaments.
Australia
[edit]In Australia the term is rarely used. Most MPs and senators are elected only in their thirties and later, but some prominent MPs have been elected rather early in life, including Prime Ministers Harold Holt, Malcolm Fraser and Paul Keating, the latter two of whom were both elected at age 25, in 1955 and 1969 respectively. The youngest Baby of the House was Wyatt Roy: he was elected at age 20 in 2010, being the youngest person ever to be elected to an Australian parliament.[2]
As of 2022[update], the current Baby of the House is the Member for Brisbane Stephen Bates (age 32). Senator Fatima Payman (age 27) is the youngest member of the Senate.
Azerbaijan
[edit]in the 2020 Azerbaijani parliamentary election, Sabina Khasayeva was the youngest MP elected, at the age of 27.[3]
Canada
[edit]The youngest-ever elected member of the House of Commons of Canada 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.[4] In the past this distinction has been held by MPs such as Sean O'Sullivan, Pierre Poilievre, Andrew Scheer, Claude-André Lachance and Lorne Nystrom.
The youngest current MP is Eric Melillo, a member of the Conservative Party of Canada, representing the riding of Kenora, Ontario; born in 1998, elected at 21 years of age. The youngest member of the Senate of Canada is Patrick Brazeau of Repentigny, Quebec; born 1974, appointed at 34 years of age.
Finland
[edit]Entered | Name | Born | Party | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
1970 | Paavo Väyrynen | 1946 | Centre Party | |
1972 | Erkki Liikanen | 1950 | Social Democratic Party of Finland | |
1979 | Pekka Starast | 1956 | Social Democratic Party of Finland | died in 2011 |
1983 | Sirpa Pietikäinen | 1959 | National Coalition Party | |
1991 | Minna Karhunen | 1967 | National Coalition Party | |
1994 | Kirsi Piha | 1967 | National Coalition Party | |
1995 | Säde Tahvanainen | 1972 | Social Democratic Party of Finland | |
1999 | Petri Neittaanmäki | 1975 | Centre Party | |
2003 | Satu Taiveaho | 1976 | Social Democratic Party of Finland | |
2004 | Oras Tynkkynen | 1977 | Green League | |
2007 | Tuomo Puumala | 1982 | Centre Party | |
2011 | Olli Immonen | 1986 | Finns Party | |
2015 | Ilmari Nurminen | 1991 | Social Democratic Party of Finland | |
2019 | Iiris Suomela | 1994 | Green League | |
2023 | Olga Oinas-Panuma | 1999 | Centre Party |
France
[edit]List of youngest members of the French Parliament
[edit]This is a list of youngest members of the French parliament at the time of their election.
Elected | Name | Department | Age |
---|---|---|---|
1789 | Mathieu de Montmorency-Laval | Yvelines | 22 |
1791 | Edme Bonnerot | Yonne | 24 |
1815 | Claude-René Bacot de Romand | Indre-et-Loire | 22 |
2012 | Marion Maréchal-Le Pen | Vaucluse | 22 |
2017 | Ludovic Pajot | Pas-de-Calais | 23 |
2022 | Tematai Le Gayic | French Polynesia | 21 |
2024 | Flavien Termet[5] | Ardennes | 22 |
Germany
[edit]In Germany the term is rarely used. Emilia Fester was the youngest MP elected in the 2021 federal election at the age of 23.[6]
Emily Vontz became the youngest MP in 2023, at the age of 22.[7]
In 2022, Pascal Leddin became the youngest member of the Landtag of Lower Saxony.[8]
Grenada
[edit]Kerryne James was elected in the 2022 Grenadian general election at the age of 24, becoming the country's youngest ever legislator.[9]
Hong Kong
[edit]In Hong Kong the term is rarely used. The current baby of the Legislative Council is Joephy Chan, who was elected in the 2021 Legislative Council election.
From 1991 to 2016 the youngest elected member was James To, who ran for the first Legislative Council direct election in 1991 at the age of 28. His record ceased in 2016, when the youngest-ever elected member Nathan Law and the youngest-ever elected female member Yau Wai-ching were both elected in the 2016 election at the ages of 23 and 25 respectively; they were both disqualified over the oath-taking controversy between 2016 and 2017. He was replaced by Ho Kai-ming, who was the fourth-youngest member when he was elected in 2016. He was later replaced by Au Nok-hin, who was elected in the 2018 by-election, but was unseated in 2019. The title went back to Ho, who subsequently resigned in May 2020 for joining the government and was replaced by Cheng Chung-tai, who was the fifth youngest member in 2016, until he himself got disqualified in August 2021. The title eventually returned to Steven Ho who was elected as the youngest member in 2012.
Duration | Name | Date of birth | Constituency | Party | Elected | Start age | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 October 1991 – 1 July 1998 | James To | 11 March 1963 | Kowloon Southwest GC | United Democrats | 1991 | 28 years, 6 months | |
1 July 1998 – 1 October 2008 | Bernard Chan | 11 January 1965 | Insurance FC | Nonpartisan | 1998 | 33 years, 5 months | |
1 October 2008 – 1 October 2012 | Chan Hak-kan | 24 April 1976 | New Territories East GC | DAB | 2008 | 32 years, 5 months | |
1 October 2012 – 29 February 2016 | Steven Ho | 30 November 1979 | Agriculture and Fisheries FC | DAB | 2012 | 32 years, 10 months | |
29 February 2016 – 1 October 2016 | Alvin Yeung | 5 June 1981 | New Territories East GC | Civic | 2016 (b) | 34 years, 8 months | |
1 October 2016 – 14 July 2017 | Nathan Law | 13 July 1993 | Hong Kong Island GC | Demosisto | 2016 | 23 years, 2 months | |
14 July 2017 – 21 March 2018 | Ho Kai-ming | 6 January 1985 | Labour FC | FTU | 2016 | 32 years, 6 months | |
21 March 2018 – 17 December 2019 | Au Nok-hin | 18 June 1987 | Hong Kong Island GC | Independent | 2018 (b) | 30 years, 9 months | |
17 December 2019 – 31 May 2020 | Ho Kai-ming | 6 January 1985 | Labour FC | FTU | 2016 | 34 years, 11 months | |
31 May 2020 – 26 August 2021 | Cheng Chung-tai | 5 November 1983 | New Territories West GC | Civic Passion | 2016 | 36 years, 6 months | |
26 August 2021 – 31 December 2021 | Steven Ho | 30 November 1979 | Agriculture and Fisheries FC | DAB | 2012 | 41 years, 8 months | |
1 January 2022 – Present | Joephy Chan | 1 December 1990 | New Territories South West GC | FTU | 2021 | 31 years, 1 month |
[ (b) – by-election]
Hungary
[edit]The youngest-ever elected member of the National Assembly is Ilona Burka, who became MP at the age of 19 years, 5 months and 13 days on 12 May 1971, following the 1971 parliamentary election.
Member | Party | Date | |
---|---|---|---|
Károly Wirth | NYKP | 1939–1944 | |
András Kis | MKP | 1944–1945 | |
András Hegedüs | MKP | 1945 | |
István B. Rácz | FKGP | 1945–1947 | |
János Gosztonyi | NPP | 1947–1949 | |
Etel Kurlik | MDP | 1949–1953 | |
Mária Inklovics | MDP MSZMP |
1953–1957 | |
Margit Kaptur | MSZMP | 1957–1958 | |
Jusztina Csarnai | MSZMP | 1958–1963 | |
István Ollári | MSZMP | 1963–1967 | |
István Bartha | MSZMP | 1967–1971 | |
Ilona Burka | MSZMP | 1971–1975 | |
Valéria Czégai | MSZMP | 1975–1980 | |
Ibolya Kovács | MSZMP | 1980–1985 | |
Márta Danka | MSZMP | 1985–1989 | |
Edit Bödő-Rózsa | Ind. | 1989–1990 | |
SZDSZ | |||
Béla Glattfelder | Fidesz | 1990–1993 | |
Róbert Répássy | Fidesz | 1993–1994 | |
László Botka | MSZP | 1994–1998 | |
János Zuschlag | MSZP | 1998–2002 | |
Péter Szijjártó | Fidesz | 2002–2006 | |
László Nagy | MSZP | 2006–2010 | |
Dóra Dúró | Jobbik | 2010–2018 | |
Péter Ungár | LMP | 2018–2022 | |
Miklós Hajnal | Momentum | 2022–present |
India
[edit]Elected | Name | Constituency | Party | Age when elected | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | Prakash Chandra Yadav | Barh | INC | 25 years, 3 months[10] | |
1989 | Nakul Nayak | Phulbani | JD | 26 years, 8 months[11] | |
1991 | Dipika Chikhlia | Vadodara | BJP | 26 years, 2 months[12] | |
1996 | Nihal Chand Chauhan | Ganganagar | BJP | 25 years, 4 months[13] | |
1998 | Yogi Adityanath | Gorakhpur | BJP | 25 years, 8 months[14] | |
2000 (b) | Akhilesh Yadav | Kannauj | SP | 26 years, 7 months[15] | |
2004 (b) | Dharmendra Yadav | Mainpuri | SP | 25 years, 8 months[16] | |
2009 | Muhammed Hamdulla Sayeed | Lakshadweep | INC | 27 years, 0 months[17] | |
2014 | Dushyant Chautala | Hisar | INLD | 26 years, 1 month[18] | |
2019 | Chandrani Murmu | Keonjhar | BJD | 25 years, 11 months | |
2024 | Pushpendra Saroj | Kaushambi | SP | 25 years, 3 months |
[(b) – by-election]
Iran
[edit]- Source:[19]
Elected | Member | Affiliation | Age when elected | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Mohammad Hassannejad | Independent | 31 | |
2016 | Fatemeh Hosseini | List of Hope | 30 | |
2020 | Rouhollah Nejabat | Independent | 31 |
Ireland
[edit]In the Republic of Ireland the term is rarely used, as TDs normally enter the Dáil after a political career in local government, usually only in their thirties and later. The current baby of the Dáil is the Labour TD Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central), who was 24 years and 10 months old when elected in November 2024.
The youngest TD of all time was William J. Murphy, elected age 21 years 29 days; the youngest female TD was Kathleen O'Connor, 21 years 7 months.
List of babies of the Dáil
[edit]Baby of Seanad Éireann
[edit]Elected | Name | Panel | Party | Age | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Kathryn Reilly[21] | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Sinn Féin | 22 | |
2016 | Fintan Warfield | Cultural and Educational Panel | Sinn Féin | 24 |
Israel
[edit]In Israel the term is seldom used. The youngest member of the current Knesset is Yitzhak Wasserlauf of Otzma Yehudit, elected in 2022 aged 30.
The youngest member of the Knesset ever is Moshe Nissim, elected in 1959 aged 24.
Italy
[edit]The youngest member of the Chamber of Deputies ever is Enzo Lattuca (PD), elected in 2013, aged 25 years, 1 month, and 6 days.
Elected | Name | Party | Date of birth | Age | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1948 | Francesco Pignatone | DC | 30 March 1923 | 25 years, 39 days | |
1953 | Fabio De Felice | MSI | 13 July 1927 | 25 years, 347 days | |
1958 | Riccardo Misasi | DC | 14 July 1932 | 25 years, 333 days | |
1963 | Luigi Berlinguer | PCI | 25 July 1932 | 30 years, 295 days | |
1967 | Giuseppe Antonio Bottaro | PCI | 21 October 1933 | 33 years, 138 days | |
1968 | Carlo Sangalli | DC | 31 August 1937 | 30 years, 279 days | |
1972 | Giuseppa Mendola | PCI | 4 December 1945 | 26 years, 173 days | |
1976 | Paolo Allegra | PCI | 2 December 1950 | 25 years, 216 days | |
1979 | Anna Maria Castelli Migali | PCI | 5 October 1951 | 27 years, 258 days | |
1979 | Michl Ebner | SVP | 20 September 1952 | 26 years, 363 days | |
1983 | Giovanni Negri | PR | 16 May 1957 | 26 years, 57 days | |
1987 | Cristina Bevilacqua | PCI | 9 March 1962 | 25 years, 115 days | |
1992 | Elisabetta Bertotti | LN | 8 December 1966 | 25 years, 137 days | |
1994 | Sebastiano Fogliato | LN | 28 September 1967 | 26 years, 199 days | |
1996 | Franca Gambato | LN | 31 August 1969 | 26 years, 252 days | |
2001 | Chiara Moroni | NPSI | 23 October 1974 | 26 years, 219 days | |
2006 | Arturo Scotto | DS | 15 May 1978 | 27 years, 348 days | |
2008 | Annagrazia Calabria | PdL | 6 May 1982 | 25 years, 359 days | |
2013 | Enzo Lattuca | PD | 9 February 1988 | 25 years, 34 days | |
2018 | Angela Raffa | M5S | 26 January 1993 | 25 years, 56 days | |
2022 | Rachele Scarpa | PD | 29 January 1997 | 25 years, 257 days |
Kenya
[edit]MP | Age | Party | Constituency | Election | Parliament |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
John Paul Mwirigi[22] | 23 | UDA | Igembe South | 2017 | 12th Parliament |
Malawi
[edit]The youngest MP in Malawi was Angela Zachepa, who was voted in as MP at age 21.[23]
Malaysia
[edit]In Malaysia, the term is very rarely used. Most MPs are directly elected and Senators are appointed or indirectly elected, usually in their middle age, but a few were elected as an MP at a very young age, including former Prime Minister and former Pekan MP Najib Razak, who was elected at 22 years and 6 months in 1976. The youngest ever elected is Batu MP Prabakaran Parameswaran, who was elected at the age of 22 years and 3 months in 2018.[24] The present Baby of the House is Sungai Petani MP Mohammed Taufiq Johari, who was elected in 2022. Mohammed Taufiq is a month younger than Prabakaran. Any citizen 18 years of age or older can become a candidate and be directly elected to the Dewan Rakyat as an MP and State Legislative Assemblies as an MLA,[25] while any citizen 30 years of age or older can be appointed or indirectly elected to the Dewan Negara as a Senator.
Marshall Islands
[edit]In the 2019 general election, Kitlang Kabua became the youngest person ever elected to the Nitijeļā.[26][27]
New Zealand
[edit]The term "Baby of the House" is rarely used in New Zealand. The current Baby of the House is Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke of Te Pāti Māori, who was elected on 14 October 2023 aged 21.[28] Maipi-Clarke succeeded Chlöe Swarbrick of the Green Party, who was elected on 24 September 2017 aged 23.[29]
Name | Elected from | Party | Date of birth | Became baby | Age | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
James Stuart-Wortley | Christchurch Country | Independent | 16 January 1833 | 1 October 1853 | 20 years, 258 days | |
Augustus White | Akaroa | Independent | 1839 | 13 February 1861 | 22 | |
Robert Campbell | Oamaru | Independent | 8 January 1843 | 6 April 1866 | 23 years, 88 days | |
Ralph Richardson | Suburbs of Nelson | Independent | 1848 | 23 January 1871 | 22 | |
William Pearson | Ashley | Independent | 1854 | 9 December 1881 | 27 | |
Arthur Rhodes | Gladstone | Independent | 20 March 1859 | 26 September 1887 | 28 years, 190 days | |
Jackson Palmer | Waitemata | Independent Liberal | 1867 | 5 December 1890 | 23 | |
Patrick O'Regan | Inangahua | Liberal | 6 February 1869 | 20 December 1893 | 24 years, 317 days | |
Thomas Wilford | Wellington Suburbs | Liberal | 20 June 1870 | 4 December 1896 | 26 years, 167 days | |
Harry Bedford | City of Dunedin | Liberal | 31 August 1877 | 25 November 1902 | 25 years, 86 days | |
Francis Fisher | Wellington Central | Liberal | 22 December 1877 | 6 December 1905 | 27 years, 349 days | |
Tom Seddon | Westland | Liberal | 2 July 1884 | 13 July 1906 | 22 years, 11 days | |
John A. Lee | Auckland East | Labour | 31 October 1891 | 7 December 1922 | 31 years, 37 days | |
George Black | Motueka | United | 21 November 1903 | 14 November 1928 | 24 years, 359 days | |
Keith Holyoake | Motueka | Reform | 11 February 1904 | 1 December 1932 | 28 years, 294 days | |
Terry McCombs | Lyttelton | Labour | 5 September 1905 | 24 July 1935 | 29 years, 322 days | |
Ormond Wilson | Rangitikei | Labour | 18 November 1907 | 27 November 1935 | 28 years, 9 days | |
Joseph Cotterill | Wanganui | Labour | 26 September 1905 | 15 October 1938 | 33 years, 19 days | |
Tapihana Paraire Paikea | Northern Maori | Labour | 26 January 1920 | 24 September 1943 | 23 years, 241 days | |
Warren Freer | Mt Albert | Labour | 27 December 1920 | 24 September 1947 | 26 years, 271 days | |
Jim Edwards | Napier | Labour | 24 February 1927 | 13 November 1954 | 27 years, 262 days | |
Basil Arthur | Timaru | Labour | 18 September 1928 | 21 July 1962 | 33 years, 306 days | |
Brian MacDonell | Dunedin Central | Labour | 19 May 1935 | 30 November 1963 | 28 years, 195 days | |
Jonathan Hunt | New Lynn | Labour | 2 December 1938 | 26 November 1966 | 27 years, 359 days | |
Murray Rose | Otago Central | National | 14 December 1939 | 29 November 1969 | 29 years, 350 days | |
Mike Moore | Eden | Labour | 28 January 1949 | 25 November 1972 | 23 years, 302 days | |
Marilyn Waring | Raglan | National | 7 October 1952 | 29 November 1975 | 23 years, 53 days | |
Simon Upton | Waikato | National | 7 February 1958 | 28 November 1981 | 23 years, 294 days | |
Nick Smith | Tasman | National | 24 December 1964 | 27 October 1990 | 25 years, 307 days | |
Nanaia Mahuta | List | Labour | 21 August 1970 | 12 October 1996 | 26 years, 52 days | |
Darren Hughes | Ōtaki | Labour | 3 April 1978 | 27 July 2002 | 24 years, 115 days | |
Jacinda Ardern | List | Labour | 26 July 1980 | 8 November 2008 | 28 years, 105 days | |
Gareth Hughes | List | Green | 31 October 1981 | 11 February 2010 | 28 years, 103 days | |
Jami-Lee Ross | Botany | National | 10 December 1985 | 5 March 2011 | 25 years, 85 days | |
Todd Barclay | Clutha-Southland | National | 8 June 1990 | 20 September 2014 | 24 years, 104 days | |
Chlöe Swarbrick | List | Green | 26 June 1994 | 23 September 2017 | 23 years, 89 days | |
Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke | Hauraki-Waikato | Te Pāti Māori | September 2002 | 14 October 2023 | 21 years, 18 days |
Philippines
[edit]In the Congress of the Philippines, the term "Baby of the House" is rarely used; the term "Benjamin" of the chamber is used instead.[30] Special treatment is not given to the youngest member of either chamber. However, by tradition, the youngest member of the chamber usually administers the oath of office to their incoming leader (i.e. President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives).
The minimum age for being a member of the House of Representatives is 25 years old, while for the Senate it is 35, as stipulated in the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines. In 1933, Benigno Aquino, Sr. became senator at the age of 33;[31] the Jones Law, which created the Senate, had prescribed the minimum age of 30.
The current Benjamin of the House is Representative Jaime Cojuangco of the 1st District of Tarlac. Meanwhile, Senator Mark Villar has been the youngest Senator since 2022.[32]
List of youngest members of the Philippine House of Representatives
[edit]Entered | Name | Party | District | Date of Birth | Assumed Office | Age | Note | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | Gerardo A. Roxas Jr. | Liberal | Capiz–1st | 21 October 1960 | 30 June 1987 | 26 years, 252 days | |||
1992 | Ralph Recto | LDP | Batangas–4th | 11 January 1964 | 30 June 1992 | 28 years, 171 days | [33] | ||
1995 | Mike Defensor | Liberal | Quezon City–3rd | 30 June 1969 | 30 June 1995 | 26 years, 0 days | [33] | ||
1998 | Alan Peter Cayetano | Lakas | Pateros–Taguig | 28 October 1970 | 30 June 1998 | 27 years, 245 days | [33] | ||
2001 | Felix William Fuentebella | NPC | Camarines Sur–3rd | 5 February 1975 | 30 June 2001 | 26 years, 145 days | [30] | ||
2002 | Joel Villanueva | CIBAC | Partylist | 2 August 1975 | 6 February 2002 | 26 years, 188 days | [30] | ||
2004 | Joel Villanueva | CIBAC | Partylist | 2 August 1975 | 20 June 2004 | 28 years, 333 days | |||
2007 | Sharee Ann Tan | Lakas | Samar–2nd | 11 May 1982 | 30 June 2007 | 25 years, 50 days | [33] | ||
2010 | Abigail Faye Ferriol-Pascual | Kalinga | Partylist | 21 September 1984 | 30 June 2010 | 25 years, 282 days | sworn in Feliciano Belmonte as Speaker[34] | [35] | |
2013 | Xavier Jesus Romualdo | Liberal | Camiguin | 5 December 1986 | 30 June 2013 | 26 years, 207 days | sworn in Feliciano Belmonte as Speaker[36] | [37] | |
2016 | Dennis Laogan | Ang Kabuhayan | Partylist | 1 September 1990 | 30 June 2016 | 25 years, 303 days | sworn in Pantaleon Alvarez[38] and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo[39] as Speaker | [40] | |
2019 | Braeden John Biron | Nacionalista | Iloilo–4th | 10 January 1994 | 30 June 2019 | 25 years, 171 days | sworn in Alan Peter Cayetano as Speaker | [32] | |
2022 | Jaime Cojuangco | NPC | Tarlac–1st | 12 April 1997 | 30 June 2022 | 25 years, 79 days | sworn in Martin Romualdez as Speaker |
List of youngest members of the Philippine Senate
[edit]Congress | Name | Party | Date of Birth | Age When Elected | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8th | Joey Lina | UNIDO | 22 December 1951 | 35 years, 190 days | 30 June 1987 | 30 June 1992 | |
9th, 10th | Nikki Coseteng | NPC | 18 December 1952 | 39 years, 195 days | 30 June 1992 | 30 June 1998 | |
11th | Loren Legarda | Lakas | 28 January 1960 | 38 years, 153 days | 30 June 1998 | 30 June 2001 | |
12th | Ralph Recto | Nacionalista | 11 January 1964 | 37 years, 170 days | 30 June 2001 | 30 June 2004 | |
13th | Bong Revilla | Lakas | 25 September 1966 | 37 years, 279 days | 30 June 2004 | 30 June 2007 | |
14th, 15th | Antonio Trillanes | Nacionalista | 6 August 1971 | 35 years, 327 days | 30 June 2007 | 30 June 2013 | |
16th | Bam Aquino | Liberal | 9 May 1977 | 36 years, 52 days | 30 June 2013 | 30 June 2016 | |
17th, 18th | Manny Pacquiao | PCM | 17 December 1978 | 37 years, 196 days | 30 June 2016 | 30 June 2022 | |
19th | Mark Villar | Nacionalista | 14 August 1978 | 43 years, 320 days | 30 June 2022 | present |
Russia
[edit]Elected | Name | Party | Age when elected | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | Aleksey Zuev | LDPR | 23 | |
1995 | Darya Mitina | CPRF | 22 | |
1999 | Vladislav Dyomin | LDPR | 25 | |
2003 | Pavel Semjonov | United Russia | 27 | |
2007 | Robert Schlegel | United Russia | 23 | |
2016 | Vasily Vlasov | LDPR | 21 | |
2021 | Georgy Arapov[41] | New People | 22 |
Singapore
[edit]The current youngest MP in the Singapore Parliament is Nadia Ahmad Samdin, who was elected in 2020 at the age of 30.[42][43][44] The youngest MP ever elected in Singapore is Lim Chin Siong, who was elected in the 1955 general election at the age of 22.[44]
Elected | Name | Party | Age | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1955 | Lim Chin Siong | PAP | 22 | |
1976 | Tan Soo Khoon | PAP | 27 | |
2011 | Tin Pei Ling | PAP | 27 | |
2020 | Raeesah Khan | WP | 26 | |
2020 | Nadia Ahmad Samdin | PAP | 30 |
South Africa
[edit]The current titleholder, since 2017, is Hlomela Bucwa of the Democratic Alliance.[45]
Sweden
[edit]Entered | Name | Constituency | Party | Age | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Gustav Fridolin | Stockholm Municipality | Green | 19 | Spokesperson of the Green Party, 2011–2019 Minister for Education, 2014–2019 | |
2006 | Annie Lööf | Jönköping County | Centre | 23 | Leader of the Centre Party, 2011–2023 Minister for Enterprise, 2011–2014 | |
2010 | Anton Abele | Stockholm Municipality | Moderate | 18 | ||
2014 | Dennis Dioukarev | Jönköping County | Sweden Democrats | 21 | ||
2015 | Jesper Skalberg Karlsson | Gotland County | Moderate | 21 | Replaced Gustaf Hoffstedt on 19 January 2015 when Hoffstedt resigned his seat. | |
2018 | Ebba Hermansson | Skåne County | Sweden Democrats | 22 | ||
21 September 2021 | Axel Hallberg | Skåne County | Green | 22 | Replaced Emma Berginger on 20 September 2021 during her leave of absence | |
19 May 2022 | Tobias Andersson | Västra Götaland County East | Sweden Democrats | 26 | When Emma Berginger returned from her leave of absence on 19 May 2022, Axel Hallberg automatically left the Parliament. Since Ebba Hermansson, the previous Baby of the House, had resigned her seat in December 2021, the new Baby of the House became Tobias Andersson at the age of 26. | |
26 September 2022 | Aida Birinxhiku[46] | Halland County | Social Democrats | 23 | Aida Birinxhiku become the youngest member of the Parliament following the 2022 general election. | |
18 January 2023 | Daniel Lönn[47] | Dalarna County | Sweden Democrats | 21 | Replaced Sara Gille from 18 January 2023 during her leave of absence. This happened since Rasmus Giertz, who had up to then replaced Sara Gille, became an ordinary member of the Parliament following Mats Nordberg's death. | |
31 March 2023 | Aida Birinxhiku[46] | Halland County | Social Democrats | 23 | Aida Birinxhiku regained her position as the youngest member of the Parliament after Sara Gille returned from her leave of absence, thus ending Daniel Lönns time in Parliament. | |
28 August 2023 | Jonathan Svensson[48] | Västra Götaland County North | Social Democrats | 23 | Jonathan Svensson became the youngest member of the Parliament when Paula Holmqvist went on leave of absence in August 2023 and finally succeeded her on 4 March 2024, when she resigned her seat. |
The current Baby of the House is Jonathan Svensson. The youngest person ever to be elected MP to a Swedish parliament is Anton Abele, who was only aged 18 when elected in September 2010.[49] Current record holder for the world's youngest-ever elected MP is Anton Abele, who at 18 years was elected to the Swedish Parliament for his activism against street violence.[50]
Turkey
[edit]Rümeysa Kadak (born 16 May 1996) is the youngest MP in the history of Republic of Turkey.[51]
Trinidad and Tobago
[edit]Saddam Hosein is the baby of the house of the 12th Republican Parliament.[52]
Uganda
[edit]At 19 years old, Proscovia Alengot Oromait was the world's youngest MP and youngest ever MP in Africa when elected in 2011.[53][54] Oromait is a member of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Uganda and was a representative of Usuk County until 2016.[55] She was succeeded as the youngest member of parliament in Uganda by Hellen Auma Wandera.[56]
United Kingdom
[edit]Becoming the Baby of the House of Commons is regarded as something of an achievement, despite the lack of any special treatment that comes with the title. 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 many holders of the title have gone on to enjoy long and distinguished parliamentary careers.
From August 1999 to September 2001, all three of the leaders of the main political parties – Tony Blair, William Hague and Charles Kennedy – had been the youngest MPs in their party when they began their political careers, though only Kennedy had been Baby of the House.
Of those whose ages can be verified, the youngest MP since the Reform Act 1832[57] is Mhairi Black, elected in 2015 aged 20 years 237 days.[58] The age of candidacy for Parliament was lowered from 21 to 18 by the Electoral Administration Act 2006. William Pitt the Younger was elected at 21 and became Prime Minister two years later in 1783. There were younger MPs in earlier centuries: Christopher Monck was elected as MP for Devon in 1667 aged 13; when his father died three years later and Monck became Duke of Albemarle, he could not then take his seat in the House of Lords until aged 21.[59]
Owen Carron directly replaced Bobby Sands as both MP for Fermanagh South Tyrone and Baby of the House after Sands' death on hunger strike, but neither ever took his seat.[60] George Charles Grey is the only other Baby of the House to die while in post, in World War Two.[61]
List of babies of the House of Commons
[edit]In the following table, "(b)" denotes an MP elected at a by-election.
Youngest member of the House of Lords
[edit]The title 'Baby of the House' is not used in the House of Lords, though the youngest member is recorded on the House website.[70] As of March 2024[update], the youngest member of the House is Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (born 15 May 1996), who was created a life peer at the age of 27, becoming the youngest-ever life peer.
The youngest male member of the House is Lord Kempsell (born 8 May 1992), who was likewise created a life peer in July 2023 at the age of 31.
Standing Orders state that "No Lord under the age of one and twenty years shall be permitted to sit in the House". When most members of the Lords were hereditary peers, a peer who had inherited his or her peerage(s) while under age was entitled to take a seat on the day before his or her 21st birthday. In theory, such a hereditary peer could still be elected to sit in the House at that age; in practice, the youngest hereditary peer to have been elected was Lord Freyberg (born 15 December 1970), who was elected in October 1999 at the age of 28.
List of youngest members of the Scottish Parliament
[edit]This is a list of youngest members of the Scottish Parliament created in 1999.
Elected | Name | Constituency/region | Party | Age when elected | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | Duncan Hamilton | Highlands and Islands region | SNP | 25[71] | |
2003 | Richard Baker | North East Scotland region | Labour | 28 | |
2007 | John Lamont | Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency | Conservative | 31 | |
2011 | Humza Yousaf | Glasgow region | SNP | 26 | |
2016 | Ross Greer | West Scotland region | Scottish Green | 21 | |
2021 | Emma Roddick | Highlands and Islands region | SNP | 23 |
List of youngest members of the Senedd
[edit]This is a list of youngest members of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament), created in 1999. From its creation in 1999 until May 2020, the Senedd was known as the National Assembly for Wales (Welsh: Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru).
Elected | Name | Constituency/region | Party | DOB | Age when elected | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | Jonathan Morgan | South Wales Central | Conservative | 27 November 1974 | 24[72] | |
2003 | Laura Ann Jones | South Wales East | Conservative | 21 February 1979 | 24 | |
2007 | Bethan Jenkins | South Wales West | Plaid Cymru | 9 December 1981 | 25 | |
2016 | Steffan Lewis | South Wales East | Plaid Cymru | 30 May 1984 | 31 | |
2018 (b) | Jack Sargeant | Alyn and Deeside | Labour | 1994 | 23[73] | |
2021 | Luke Fletcher | South Wales West | Plaid Cymru | 1995/96 | 25[74] |
United States
[edit]While the term is used in the Commonwealth Parliaments, Baby of the House or Senate is not in general contemporary use in the United States, nor does being the youngest member confer special treatment in either house of Congress.
Members of the US 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 those under the age of 25 from serving in the House, and those under the age of 30 from serving in the Senate. Moreover, election to the federal Congress is expensive and requires extensive contacts and recognition across a very wide area. Individuals aiming to serve in the federal legislature generally seek election to the state legislature (state legislatures generally have lower minimum ages for entry) or other state office before seeking to serve in Washington.
In the 118th Congress, which began on 3 January 2023, the youngest member of the United States House of Representatives is Maxwell Frost, who was born on 17 January 1997 and was first elected in 2022.
Currently the youngest US senator is Jon Ossoff, born on 16 February 1987 , and first elected to a full term in the Senate in the 2020–21 United States Senate election in Georgia.
Zimbabwe
[edit]Zimbabwe is a commonwealth country where the term "baby of the house" isn't used, but young MPs are represented in the Parliament of Zimbabwe.[75]
MP | Party | Constituency | Age | Election | Parliament | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joanah Mamombe | Movement for Democratic Change Alliance | Harare West | 25 | 2018 | 9th Parliament of Zimbabwe | [76] |
Takudzwa Ngadziore | Citizens Coalition for Change | Youth quota | 24 | 2023 | 10th Parliament of Zimbabwe | [77] |
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ of the House: House of Commons Background Paper – Commons Library Standard Note from UK Parliament, accessed on 1 January 2015.
- ^ "Australia's youngest MP says future PM suggestion is 'ridiculous'". news.com.au. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
- ^ "23-VIQR - Azərbaycan Respublikası Milli Məclisinin Regional məsələlər komitəsi üzvlərinin seçilməsi haqqında". 20 August 2020. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ Banerjee, Sidhartha (4 May 2011). "19-year-old sets record as youngest MP; NDPer planned summer job at golf course". The Canadian Press.[dead link ]
- ^ "Age, gender, profession: Who are France's new members of Parliament?". Le Monde.fr. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ "Grünen-Politikerin Emilia Fester - Ersti-Woche im Bundestag". Deutschlandfunk Kultur (in German). Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- ^ "Emily Vontz: "Laut sein für meine Generation"". ZDF (in German). Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- ^ "Von FFF in den Landtag: Jüngster Abgeordneter ist 23 - WELT". DIE WELT (in German). 13 October 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "Youngest elected representative in the history of Grenada - Kerryne Z. James". Caribbean American Passport. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- ^ "Members' Bioprofile - Prakash Chandra". Parliament of India - Lok Sabha. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ "Members' Bioprofile - Nakul Nayak". Parliament of India - Lok Sabha. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ "Members' Bioprofile - Smt. Dipika Topiwala". Parliament of India - Lok Sabha. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ "Members' Bioprofile". Parliament of India - Lok Sabha. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ Parliament of India - Twelfth Lok Sabha: Who's Who (1999) (PDF). New Delhi: Lok Sabha Secretariat. 1999. p. 1219.
- ^ Parliament of India - Thirteenth Lok Sabha: Who's Who (2000) (PDF). New Delhi: Lok Sabha Secretariat. 2000. p. 1253.
- ^ Parliament of India - Fourteenth Lok Sabha: Who's Who (2005) (PDF). New Delhi: Lok Sabha Secretariat. 2005. p. 1309.
- ^ Parliament of India - Fifteenth Lok Sabha: Who's Who (2011) (PDF). New Delhi: Lok Sabha Secretariat. 2011. p. 1333.
- ^ Parliament of India - Sixteenth Lok Sabha: Who's Who (2016) (PDF). New Delhi: Lok Sabha Secretariat. 2016. p. 1391.
- ^ Nasrin Vaziri. "اعضای هیات رئیسه سنی در 10 مجلس شورای اسلامی/چهار رئیس سنی تا کنون درگذشتهاند" (in Persian). Khabar Online. Archived from the original on 26 May 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
- ^ Joseph Sweeney did not take his seat in the House of Commons but sat in the First Dáil
- ^ O'Regan, Michael (30 April 2011). "SF woman (22) is youngest ever Senator". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ Rene Otinga (16 September 2017). "Pleasant surprise: Uhuru donates brand new Toyota Prado to 'broke' 23-year-old MP as he promised". Nairobi: TUKO Kenya. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "Atupele Muluzi to engage former youngest parliamentarian, Angella Zachepa | Malawi Voice". Archived from the original on 1 July 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
- ^ "Malaysia's youngest MP Prabakaran joins PKR". Malay Mail. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ "Penjalanan Pilihan Raya: Calon". Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ "Hon Kitlang Kabua". Pacific Women in Politics. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020.
- ^ Johnson, Giff (20 January 2020). "Marshalls' President Kabua's inauguration set for Monday". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020.
- ^ "Nanaia Mahuta unseated by 21-year-old newcomer Hana Maipi-Clarke". 1 News. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ "Chloe Swarbrick, 23, set to become NZ's youngest MP in 42 years". The New Zealand Herald. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ^ a b c Labog-Javellana, Juliet (7 February 2002). "New Solon takes office with much fanfare". Google News. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ "FAST FACTS: Trivia on the Philippine Senate". Rappler. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- ^ a b Bueza, Michael (2 July 2019). "18th Congress, by the numbers". Rappler. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d "GMA News Research: More young reps in but oldies still rule". GMA News Online. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ "House of Representatives Press Releases". House of Representatives. Philippines. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ "Youngest in the House". 20 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2020 – via PressReader.
- ^ Boncocan, Karen (22 July 2013). "House re-elects Belmonte in overwhelming vote". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ "Rep. XJ Romualdo ng Camiguin, pinakabatang kongresista sa bansa". GMA News Online. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ "Duterte ally Pantaleon Alvarez elected as Speaker of 17th Congress". GMA News Online. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ Nonato, Gabriel Pabico Lalu, Pathricia Ann V. Roxas, Vince F. (24 July 2018). "Backed by 184 lawmakers, Gloria Arroyo takes oath as Speaker". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Bueza, Michael (24 July 2016). "By the numbers: 17th Congress". Rappler. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ "Чем богаты депутаты". Газета РБК. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ Yip, Christy. "GE2020: Age is no issue, says PAP's youngest candidate Nadia Samdin". CNA. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- ^ Auto, Hermes (21 August 2015). "PAP's Tin Pei Ling will defend MacPherson single-seat ward in coming general election | The Straits Times". Straits Times. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ a b Lay, Belmont (11 July 2020). "Sengkang GRC MP-elect Raeesah Khan, 26, set to be youngest MP in modern S'pore". Mothership. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ Shaban, Abdur Rahman Alfa (22 February 2017). "South Africa's youngest MP dazzles as she delivers her first address". Africanews. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
- ^ a b Aida Birinxhiku is the youngest MP 2022-09-25 (in Swedish)
- ^ 21-åring blir yngst i riksdagen 2023-01-17 (in Swedish)
- ^ Bohlin, Albin (29 February 2024). "Han blir yngst i kammaren". Altinget.se. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ Anton, 18, to be youngest ever Swedish MP – The Local Archived 15 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "FutureWorld » Ugandan teenager becomes youngest MP in Africa". Archived from the original on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "TÜRKİYE BÜYÜK MİLLET MECLİSİ". www5.tbmm.gov.tr. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "Saddam Hosein Biography". Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago.
- ^ "Uganda scraps anti-porn 'miniskirt' law". France 24. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
- ^ Nunoo, Ama (9 September 2020). "At 19, this Ugandan woman became Africa's youngest lawmaker". Face2Face Africa. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
- ^ Adeyemo, Adeola (20 September 2012). "Here Comes Africa's Youngest Parliamentarian! 19 Year-Old Proscovia Alengot Oromait Wins a Parliamentary Seat in Ugandan Elections & Makes History". BellaNaija. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
- ^ "Fish vendor now Uganda's youngest serving MP". The Citizen. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
- ^ Prior to 1832 minors could be elected; precise information on those MPs is often unclear.
- ^ MacAskill, Ewen; Ratcliffe, Rebecca (8 May 2015). "Mhairi Black: the 20-year-old who beat a Labour heavyweight". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ "I. The Composition of the House | History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ "1981: Hunger striker elected MP". BBC News. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ "Whitehall, October 17, 1944". The Gazette. The Gazette. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ Joseph Sweeney did not take his seat; the youngest MP actually sitting in the House of Commons was Oswald Mosley (Conservative, aged 22)
- ^ a b Became the youngest MP for a second time, on the death of the previous youngest MP
- ^ Tony Benn was first elected at the 1950 Bristol South East by-election, 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
- ^ Tony Benn became the youngest MP again after the 1951 general election, on the defeat of Teevan
- ^ 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 Clarke later in the year
- ^ Basil de Ferranti was the youngest MP for 15 days between his taking his seat after the 1958 Morecambe and Lonsdale by-election and Patrick Wolrige-Gordon taking his seat after the 1958 East Aberdeenshire by-election
- ^ 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
- ^ Although several sources claim Claire Ward was the youngest MP during this period, she was 50 days older than Chris Leslie
- ^ Parliament.UK – House of Lords FAQS – Membership and principal office holders at parliament.uk
- ^ McColm, Euan (8 March 2017). "This time the SNP will get real". The Scotsman. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ Percival, Jenny (8 May 1999). "LABOUR WILTS IN THE VALLEYS AS PLAID CYMRU TAKES ROOT". The Scotman. p. 9.
- ^ Shipton, Martin; Hodgson, Sarah (7 February 2018). "Jack Sargeant wins Alyn and Deeside by-election after his father's death". Wales Online. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ BBC News (10 May 2021). "Welsh Parliament election: Senedd members get to work". BBC News. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "Joana Mamombe: Meet the Zimbabwe Youngest Member of Parliament, Age 25". How Africa News. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ tubei, george (10 September 2018). "Meet Zimbabwe's youngest legislator, Joanah Mamombe who at 25 represents Harare West Constituency". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ Ndoro, Nyashadzashe (1 November 2023). "Zimbabwe's youngest MP Takudzwa Ngadziore abducted by men armed with AK47s". Nehanda Radio. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
References
[edit]- Youngest Members of Parliament Archived 9 October 1999 at the Wayback Machine