Gordon Marsden was elected as Blackpool South’s first-ever Labour Member of Parliament in May 1997. In his role as an MP during the last 10 years he's campaigned for improvements in many areas that affect Blackpool people. For example:

• Campaigning for improved accessibility locally with Age Concern and particularly challenging the Post Office’s proposal to re-site the central Post Office to WH Smith’s on Bank Hey Street.
• Working with the British Legion and other groups locally and nationally to help with Burma Star, Arctic Convoy and other veterans’ groups for compensation and recognition
• Working closely on childcare issues nationally and helped win funds for expansion of Talbot and Brunswick Sure Start.
• Support for the rights of grandparents.
• Increased support for carers, especially young carers, of whom there are many in Blackpool.
• Promotion of disabled rights in society. Locally he is President of Blackpool Disability Services and at Westminster he has been recognised as a Parliamentary Champion by the Disability Rights Commission.
• Continued work supporting the Alzheimer's Society to get more recognition for this vulnerable group and their families.
• A strong focus on education, including the importance of special needs education and lifelong learning for all in Blackpool.
• Regeneration of Blackpool; helping to bring Heritage Lottery Funding to the Grand Theatre and Stanley Park and now actively lobbying for Lottery Funding for the People’s Playground, working in Westminster to raise awareness of the town and its needs, continuing the successful campaign to gain significant funding to improve Blackpool.
• Backing employees' rights in the workplace and the introduction of the minimum wage.
• Fighting social exclusion and anti-social behaviour in the area.
• Backing special needs locally – close links with special schools, championing Treehouse Autism nationally and locally with groups such as Blackpool Tiggers.

Gordon was born and brought up in the North West and educated at Stockport Grammar School and Oxford University and won a Kennedy Scholarship to Harvard. Prior to his election, he was the Editor of History Today magazine, which he ran as a small business for 12 years, and an associate lecturer teaching with the Open University. He has a home and office in South Shore.

Gordon is President of the British Resorts and Destinations Association and is also chair of the Labour Seaside Towns Parliamentary Group. Since 1997 Gordon has campaigned in Parliament to highlight the particular needs and priorities of seaside towns like Blackpool.

Gordon chairs the All-Party Skills Group, and is a member of the Education and Skills Select Committee. His recent interests in this area have focused on curriculum and citizenship, skills, further education, and special educational needs. He has recently campaigned on the need to tackle the adult skills gap and especially to re-skill older workers.

Gordon says: "Do get in contact with me, what you say will influence my work both here in Blackpool and at Westminster, focusing my activities on your behalf"