Alan Campbell was born on 8 July 1957 in Consett and went to Blackfyne Grammar School in the town before attending Lancaster University where he was awarded a BA in politics.

He then gained a PGCE at the University of Leeds, before finishing his education at Newcastle Polytechnic with an MA in history.

[2] He began his career as a history teacher at Whitley Bay High School in 1981; after eight years there became head of the sixth form at Hirst High School, Ashington, then head of department, where he remained until he was elected to the House of Commons.

[12] Following the Labour Party's landslide victory in the 2024 general election, he was appointed Chief Whip of the House of Commons and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on 5 July,[13] which mirrored his same previous position as the new Chief Whip of the Labour Party in the May 2021 shadow cabinet reshuffle.

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