Neil Duncan-Jordan was elected Labour MP for Poole on 4 July 2024 with 14,168 votes (31.84 percent) and a majority of 18 votes, after multiple recounts. It was the first time Labour had ever won the seat since its creation in 1950. He defeated Conservative Robert Syms, who had held it for 27 years. The swing to Labour was 19 percent. He has since rebelled against the government 11 times, had the whip withdrawn and restored, and twice called for Keir Starmer to step down as Prime Minister. The MP with the smallest majority in Parliament has been one of its most persistent rebels.

Born in Elm Park, East London in the late 1960s and educated at the University of Bournemouth, he was a regional officer for UNISON and for the National Pensioners Convention, four decades, he says, in the Labour and trade union movement, and the source of his welfare expertise.

In September 2024, two months after his election, he abstained on the Winter Fuel Payment vote rather than supporting the government's means testing of the payment. That was the first signal.

On 16 July 2025, he was one of four Labour MPs who had the whip withdrawn for "repeated breaches of party discipline." The others were Chris Hinchliff (North East Hertfordshire), Brian Leishman (Alloa and Grangemouth), and Rachael Maskell (York Central). All four were among 47 Labour MPs who rebelled against the government's welfare reform proposals. The rebellion forced ministers to water down their plans. The whip was restored to all four in November 2025 after discussions with the new Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds.

His total rebellion count is 11 across 467 divisions, approximately 2.4 percent. Rebellions covered the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill, the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill (multiple votes), and other welfare related legislation. He has consistently voted against reducing the health top up for new Universal Credit claims and against proposed disability benefit cuts.

He has twice called for Starmer to step down as Prime Minister, most recently over the Mandelson affair. The MP with an 18-vote majority publicly calling for his own Prime Minister's removal is either principled or reckless, depending on perspective.

He chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Chess. He opposes the proposed sale of Poole Civic Centre and supports the renationalisation of the water industry.

Duncan-Jordan's strengths include 40 years of Labour and trade union movement experience, National Pensioners Convention background providing genuine welfare policy expertise, winning a historically impossible seat on a 19 percent swing, 11 rebellions demonstrating sustained independence on welfare issues, the whip withdrawal and restoration proving he can survive discipline, and the Chess APPG chair. His weaknesses include an 18-vote majority that means any swing whatsoever will end his career, 11 rebellions and two calls for the PM to resign making him a permanent disciplinary problem, no ministerial prospects, no committee chairmanship, and no legislative achievement. At approximately 57, he holds the most precarious seat in Parliament while behaving as though he holds the safest. Whether that is courage or recklessness will be determined by 18 voters in Poole.