Calvin Bailey

Calvin George Bailey (born 1977) is a British politician and former Royal Air Force officer who has served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People since 2026. A member of the Labour Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Leyton and Wanstead since 2024.

Early life and education Bailey was born in 1977 in Zambia. As a child, his family moved to London,

Bailey graduated with a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree from the University of Exeter in 1999. He later completed a Master of Arts (MA) degree in war studies at King's College London in 2017.

Military service

On 3 October 1999, Bailey was commissioned in the Royal Air Force with the rank of pilot officer. He was promoted to flying officer on 3 April 2000, and to flight lieutenant on 3 April 2001. From 2001 to 2007, he flew the C-130 Hercules with No. 47 Squadron RAF. From 2007 to 2010, he served with the United States Air Force as part of the Pilot Exchange Program, flying with 15th Special Operations Squadron. He was second in command of No. 47 Squadron RAF from 2013 to 2016. In February 2015, he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field during the period 1 October 2013 to 30 June 2014". He received the Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 2018.

Bailey was promoted to wing commander on 30 August 2016. In 2020, he was officer commanding No. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing as part of Operation Shader. In May 2021, he became officer commanding No. LXX (70) Squadron RAF which operated the Airbus A400M Atlas. He was the detachment commander of the deployed Air Mobility Forces during Operation Pitting, the UK's military operation to evacuate British nationals and eligible Afghans from Kabul Airport, Afghanistan. It was his decision to double the number of passengers taken per flight, as the risk of overloading the aircraft was outweighed by the risk to the lives of those who would have been left behind.

Bailey retired from the Royal Air Force after 24 years of service, having been elected a member of parliament. On 24 July 2024, he made his maiden speech during a debate on the Global Combat Air Programme.

In November 2024, Bailey voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which proposes to legalise assisted suicide.

Bailey became a junior minister in Keir Starmer's government when he was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People on 12 June 2026.

Personal life Bailey has four children, two daughters and two sons.