Peter Swallow

Peter Swallow is a British classicist, academic and politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Bracknell since 2024. Before his election, he was a postdoctoral researcher specialising in the study of Aristotle. He is the first Labour Party MP for Bracknell.

Early life and education

Swallow was born in Wokingham and grew up in Crowthorne. He studied classics at university, graduating with an undergraduate Master of Arts degree from the University of St Andrews and a Master of Studies degree from St Hilda's College, Oxford. He undertook a Doctor of Philosophy degree at King's College London, which he completed in 2020 with a doctoral thesis titled "The reception of Aristophanes in Britain during the long-Nineteenth century".
He is the author of Aristophanes in Britain: Old Comedy in the Nineteenth Century. He co-edited Aristophanic Humour: Theory and Practice with Edith Hall.
Prior to entering politics, Swallow held a postdoctoral position as Nomikos Research Associate at King's College London.
According to Bracknell News, "Since 2017 he has worked with the Advocating Classics Education project, which expands access to classical education in schools. He is particularly interested in supporting greater provision for special education needs."

At the 2024 general election, Swallow was elected as the Member of Parliament for Bracknell with 14,783 votes and a majority of 784. Bracknell had previously only ever elected Conservative Party MPs; Swallow defeated James Sunderland. On the floor of the House of Commons, Swallow made his maiden speech in February 2025, describing it as “the honour of my life."
Swallow currently serves on several joint and Commons committees. This includes the Human Rights (Joint Committee); the Court of Referees; and the Norwich Livestock Market Bill Committee. Previously, he was a member of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education Bill Committee.
He currently chairs the All‑Party Parliamentary Group on Classics and serves as Vice‑Chair of the APPG for the South East, reflecting his dual interests in heritage education and regional advocacy. He is also Chair of the APPGs on Schools, Learning and Assessment and Social Mobility.
In June 2025, he secured a House of Commons Adjournment Debate focused on street parking on residential estates in Bracknell Forest.
In the same month, Swallow voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which proposes to legalise assisted suicide.

Swallow is a member of the LGBTQ+ community.