FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nine MPs to Run the 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon
A record nine Members of Parliament will run the 2014 Virgin Money London
Marathon on Sunday 13 April this year, including six frontbenchers from the
House of Commons, the most ever in the 33-year history of the event.
This year's lobby of marathon MPs includes five from the Labour Party, all
shadow ministers, plus four Conservatives. All nine will appear in their
running kit for a photocall outside the Houses of Parliament next week
(details below).
Among them will be Jim Murphy, Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for
International Development, who was the fastest MP last year when he
finished in 3 hours 31 minutes 44 seconds, making him the eighth quickest
parliamentarian in London Marathon history.
The Scot, then Shadow Defence Secretary, finished almost two hours ahead of
his colleague, Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, who knocked more than 15 minutes
from his 2012 time when he crosed the line in 5:14:13.
Balls is back to run his third London Marathon in three years, and this
time will be joined by three more colleagues - Dan Jarvis, Shadow Justice
Minister, who clocked 3:46:41 last year, plus two debutants, Andy Burnham,
Shadow Secretary of State for Health, and Sadiq Khan, Shadow Justice
Secretary.
Jarvis is running his second London Marathon as an MP, his fourth in total.
He hopes to dip under 3:30 this time and give Murphy a run for his money.
The 41-year-old Barnsley Central MP will run with his 69-year-old father,
Bernard, a veteran of 68 marathons, and in memory of his wife Caroline who
died of bowel cancer in 2010.
Alun Cairns, the member for Vale of Glamorgan, was quickest of the
Conservative MPs in 2013, clocking 3:39:41 to beat his 2012 time by more
than 20 minutes. He returns to lead the Conservative challenge in 2014,
backed by three fellow Tories, all of whom have completed the course in the
last few years.
Based on previous times, Edward Timpson could be challenging Cairns for the
honour of being the fastest blue. The Minister for Children and Families
broke four hours in 2012 and is the most experienced marathon runner in the
2014 MPs' line-up with four successful London Marathons behind him.
His Tory colleagues - Graham Evans, MP for Weaver Vale, and Jason McCartne,
MP for Colne Valley - have both finished in under five hours in recent
years.
MPs running in 2014
Ed Balls, Labour, Morley & Outwood, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Personal Best: 5:14:13 (2013)
This will be Balls' third London Marathon. Previous times: 5:31:48 (2012);
5:14:13 (2013)
Andy Burnham, Labour, Leigh, Shadow Health Secretary
Debut
Alun Cairns, Conservative, Vale of Glamorgan
Personal Best: 3:39:41 (2013)
This will be Cairns' third London Marathon. Previous times: 4:03:16 (2012);
3:39:41 (2013)
Graham Evans, Conservative, Weaver Vale
Personal Best: 4:46:15 (2012)
This will be Evans' third London Marathon. Previous times: 4:46:15 (2012);
4:49:00 (2013)
Dan Jarvis, Labour, Barnsley Central, Shadow Youth Justice and Victims
Minister
Personal Best: 3:46:41 (2013)
This will be his second London Marathon as an MP. Previous times: 3:46:41
(2013)
Sadiq Khan, Labour, Tooting, Shadow Justice Secretary & Shadow Minister for
London
Debut
Jason McCartney, Conservative, Colne Valley
Personal Best: 4:44:26 (2013)
This will be his second London Marathon. Previous times: 4:44:26 (2013)
Jim Murphy, Labour, East Renfrewshire, Shadow Secretary of State for
International Development
Personal Best: 3:31:44 (2013)
This will be Murphy's second London Marathon. Previous time: 3:31:44 (2013)
Edward Timpson, Conservative, Crewe & Nantwich, Minister for Children and
Families
Personal Best: 3:55:19 (2012)
This will be Timpson's fifth London Marathon. Previous times: 3:58:36
(2009); 4:26:40 (2010); 6:28:47 (2011); 3:55:19 (2012)
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