Thangam Debbonaire

Thangam Debbonaire is the shadow secretary of state for housing.

Losing my seat is a painful part of democracy

As excitable new MPs are escorted around comfy offices in Portcullis House, we ‘departing members’, as we’re known, are guided around small, unglamorous rooms in Richmond House, the scruffier Westminster neighbour, to be told about the winding-up period. I’m the only Labour MP here. I hug one of my favourite Tories and swap loser anecdotes