"The more I got to know her, the more there was to love."
Two new Labour MPs announced their engagement to each other.
Jeevun Sandher proposed to Louise Jones at her home on December 1, 2024, nearly two years after meeting on the campaign trail.
The news was publicly revealed in the Commons by Leader of the House Lucy Powell.
Sandher admitted that “coming into politics is difficult, but with Louise, things are always incredibly easy”.
They met in January 2023, when Jones was running to become a councillor in Loughborough, where Sandher was also campaigning.
He said: “The more I got to know her, the more there was to love.”
By October 2023, their connection turned to romance, with Sandher realising “the happiest times in my life were the times I was spending with her on a sofa”.
In July 2024, they both became MPs for the first time.
Sandher became MP for Loughborough while Jones claimed North East Derbyshire.
Despite the distance, Sandher does not see it as a problem.
He told the BBC: “We are in London four days a week and then we have to go back to our constituencies so we have to be a little bit apart.
“But I personally found it okay as there is a lot of stuff to do – this is a hard job.”
Their shared understanding of the demands of politics has been a major part of their relationship.
Jeevun Sandher said: “I think we understand each other’s lives incredibly well.
“If Louise was to say to me ‘oh, look, we have to cut these plans because of this reason’, I would completely understand – and vice versa.”
Working together has also made the job easier for Sandher.
Although they are engaged, Sandher and Jones will not be the first married couple in the House of Commons.
Under Gordon Brown’s premiership, Yvette Cooper served alongside her husband Ed Balls.
Ex-health secretary Baroness Virginia Bottomley and her husband Sir Peter Bottomley both served as Conservative MPs.
Sandher said:
“We’re going to have to ask them how they how they did it and what worked and what did not.”
“I’m always happy to take advice because this is a new job and I’m trying to learn as much as possible.
“So, Ed Balls – give me a call.”
The newly-engaged couple have told family and friends but the Commons announcement resulted in colleagues and constituents flooding them with support.
Sandher said: “It’s been incredibly heartwarming because you know people are really happy for you.”
The couple now has to balance the demands of parliamentary life with planning their wedding.
Sandher added: “If anyone wants to plan a wedding, please do get in touch.”
“There is lots of decisions that have to be made, but we’ll make them together and we’ll come to the right thing for both of us.”
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