Labour's youngest UK MP sparks fury over claim being older doesn’t make you better at job
The 22-year-old Cambridge graduate argued his lack of life experience would not prevent him from delivering for his constituents.
Barely four days into the job and the Labour Party's West Cambridgeshire MP, the youngest elected in the general election last week, has already seen his suitability questioned.
Sam Carling, 22, sparked a furious debate after he rejected suggestions that being older would make him better at his job.
Mr Carling, who recently graduated from Cambridge, became involved with politics during the pandemic when he became one of the thousands of British students who saw their A-levels cancelled.
While appearing on BBC Breakfast to discuss his recent election, Mr Carling was challenged on his experience as a politician.
Presenter Roger Johnson said: "One of the criticisms of MPs is that they are...many of them don't have real-world experience.
"You've touched on some of that but, at 22, can you really offer some real-world experience and bring that to the House of Commons?"
The Labour MP replied: "Well, I have a lot of experience that older members of Parliament won't. I've been renting in secure housing in the private sector for quite a while now and that's an issue facing not just young people but people all across the age spectrum.
"And it's something I intend to do a lot of work on now that I'm in Parliament. I always get a bit frustrated when people mention life experience because no one has yet been able to explain to me why being older makes you better at the job."
A surprised Mr Johnson immediately cut in: "Well, you got more experience. I think that's why."
Mr Carling, however, did not seem won over by the response and challenged the BBC presenter to outline "what kind of experience," being older would add to his skill set.
Mr Johnson said: "By definition, over the years, you gain more experience. Life experience.
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"You can talk about all the things you just mentioned – renting, jobs, children, children's services, looking after old people, healthcare issues – all the sorts of thing you get over a lifetime."
Mr Carling said: "As I've said before, I've had a lot of experiences lots of older MPs won't have had and I've done quite for my age as well.
"I've been a councillor for a couple of years, and a Cabinet member responsible for about £17 million of public money over the last year.
"I've been a trustee of a university and I've done a lot of other things that perhaps wouldn't be typical for someone of my age."
Mr Carling, who is expected to be named the Baby of the House as the youngest MP elected in this round of voting, is by far not the youngest Briton to be elected in the Commons in history.
SNP's Mhari Black currently holds the record as she was elected aged 20 in the 2015 general election.
The exchange between Mr Carlin and Mr Johnson was met with some ridicule on social media, with several users mocking the Labour MP for his comments.
One user jokingly wrote on X: "It doesn’t matter how many people try to explain. He won’t work this out until he’s older."
Another wrote: "'What kind of experience?' Experience of being an adult, with adult responsibilities and a learned view of the wider world outside of childhood and university bubbles. Still going around in circles?"