Glen Bennett

Glen Thomas Bennett[2] is a New Zealand politician and a member of the Labour Party. He was elected the Member of the Parliament for New Plymouth at the 2020 New Zealand general election, defeating the National candidate and incumbent Jonathan Young.[3] Prior to entering politics, he worked in the community sector for more than 20 years.[4]

Glen Bennett
MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for New Plymouth
In office
17 October 2020 – 14 October 2023
Preceded byJonathan Young
Succeeded byDavid MacLeod
Majority2,555
Personal details
Born1975 or 1976 (age 47–48)[1]
Dunedin, New Zealand
Political partyLabour
Spouse
Jon O'Neill
​
(m. 2021)​
OccupationPolitician

Early life

Bennett was born in Dunedin. His parents were officers in The Salvation Army and frequently moved around the country. He attended Dominion Road School in Auckland, Shirley Boys' High School in Christchurch, and Rongotai College in Wellington. He spent two years working in television production, including such shows as Showcase, Fair Go, and McPhail and Gadsby. After witnessing poverty in Donetsk, Ukraine on a trip with the Salvation Army in 2002, Bennett decided to foster troubled teen boys.[5]

Political career
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2020–present 53rd New Plymouth 72 Labour

Bennett was a member of the local New Plymouth Labour Party branch for over five years prior to his selection. In late 2019, Bennett ran unopposed for the Labour nomination for the New Plymouth seat, after serving on the local electorate executive for the previous two years.

At the 2020 general election, New Plymouth was not tipped as a seat to flip to Labour, with the party not having held the seat since 2008. On the night, Bennett defeated the incumbent National Party MP Jonathan Young by a final margin of 2,555 votes.[6]

Personal life

Bennett is openly gay, and became engaged to fiancé Jon O'Neill after a proposal on stage at a Troy Kingi concert in New Plymouth.[7] During the 2020 campaign, Bennett was accosted by a member of the public about his sexuality, which led to Andrew Little stepping in to stop the abuse.[8] After being delayed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bennett and O'Neill were married in Parliament on 8 February 2021, the day before Bennett's maiden speech.[9]

References
  1. "Bennett, Glen - New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz.
  2. "Event – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz.
  3. "Election 2020: Labour supporters dance the conga after dramatic takeover of New Plymouth seat". 18 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  4. "Glen Bennett". Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  5. "Living the gospel". Taranaki Daily News. 6 August 2008 – via PressReader.
  6. "New Plymouth – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  7. "Labour Party announces new candidate for New Plymouth electorate". Stuff. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  8. "Election 2020: Andrew Little steps in to stop abuse of gay Labour candidate". Stuff. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  9. Keith, Leighton (8 February 2021). "New Plymouth Labour MP Glen Bennett ties the knot in Parliament". Stuff.
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