Calvin Bailey MP
Calvin Bailey is the Labour Member of Parliament for Leyton and Wanstead, elected on the 5th of July 2024. Born in Zambia and raised in East London, he graduated with a Master of Engineering from the University of Exeter in 1999 and later completed a Master of Arts in War Studies at King's College London in 2017. Calvin spent over 24-years in the Royal Air Force, rising to the rank of Wing Commander. In 2013, he was awarded the Air Medal by the President of the United States for services during coalition operations in Afghanistan and in 2015, he was awarded an MBE for his support of relief operations in Haiti and the Philippines. Since entering Parliament, Calvin has been active in various roles. He is a member of the Defence Select Committee and participates in several All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs), including as chair of the Armed Forces community. Calvin is also a champion for the Labour African Network and in January 2025 he was appointed the UK Trade Envoy to Southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, DRC, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zambia).
Securing Britain’s combat air future
Writing in the UK Defence Journal, former RAF Wing Commander and Defence Select Committee member Calvin Bailey MP argues that Britain’s fast jet force risks collapse without urgent decisions on F-35 orders, Typhoon procurement, and GCAP timelines.
