William Roffen Esterson[2] (born 27 October 1966)[3] is a British Labour Party politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Sefton Central since 2010. He was Shadow Minister for Roads from 2023 to 2024,[4] and was Shadow Minister for Small Business from 2015 to 2020.
William Esterson was born on 27 October 1966. He attended Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School in Rochester, Kent.[5] He holds a joint degree in Mathematics and Philosophy from the University of Leeds. After graduation, Esterson trained with an accountancy firm and subsequently became director of a training consultancy.[6]
Prior to his election as an MP, Esterson was a councillor for River Ward in Medway.[7] When Medway Council was created in 1997, Esterson was elected to represent Town Ward. He represented Town Ward until 2003, when boundary changes were implemented. He was a councillor for St Margaret's and Borstal ward on Rochester-upon-Medway City Council which was dissolved to form Medway Council.[8] During his time as a councillor, Esterson served on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Education; Community and Local Government; and Treasury Select Committees.[9]
At the 2010 general election, Esterson was elected to Parliament as MP for Sefton Central with 41.9% of the vote and a majority of 3,862.[10]
Esterson contributed to the Hillsborough debate in the House of Commons on 17 October 2011 by reading directly the words of a bereaved father. In September 2011 he contributed to the book What next for Labour? Ideas for a new generation. His chapter was entitled A Campaigning Party.[11]
In January 2015, Esterson proposed a bill which would introduce compulsory labelling of alcoholic drinks warning about potential dangers from drinking during pregnancy.[12]
At the 2015 general election, Esterson was re-elected as MP for Sefton Central with an increased vote share of 53.8% and an increased majority of 11,846.[13][14]
He was made Shadow Minister for Small Business following Jeremy Corbyn's election as Leader of the Labour Party in September 2015.[15] However, he supported Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Corbyn in the 2016 leadership election.[16] In October 2016, he was made Shadow Minister for International Trade.[9]
Esterson was again re-elected at the snap 2017 general election with an increased vote share of 63% and an increased majority of 15,618.[17] At the 2019 general election, Esterson was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 57.5% and a decreased majority of 15,122.[18][19]
Esterson endorsed Keir Starmer in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election.[20] After Starmer's victory in the contest, Esterson was sacked as Shadow Small Business Minister, but reappointed as Shadow International Trade Minister.[9] He became Shadow Minister for Business and Industry as part of Starmer's shadow cabinet reshuffle.[21]
In the 2023 British shadow cabinet reshuffle, he became Shadow Minister for Roads.[4]
At the 2024 general election, Esterson was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 56.4% and an increased majority of 18,282.[22]
Esterson is married with two children.[6]