Alexander Cunningham[1] (born 1 May 1955)[2] is a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Stockton North from 2010 to 2024.

Born in Scotland and raised in Darlington, Cunningham began his career as a journalist in Teesside and later worked as a private sector communications officer in the region.

He resigned in 2016 due to a lack of confidence in Jeremy Corbyn's party leadership, but rejoined as Shadow Pensions Minister later in the year.

Resigning from the front bench for the second time in 2017, to vote against the Labour whip on Brexit, he spent two years as backbencher before his appointment as a Shadow Housing Minister in 2019.

[4] Active in the Stockton North Constituency Labour Party, he was press officer from 1984 to 2010, vice chairman and secretary from 1985 to 1995, and chair from 1995 to 2000.

[5] Cunningham was selected as the Labour candidate for Stockton North in January 2008, successfully challenging long-serving incumbent MP Frank Cook in a mandatory re-selection.

[11] He re-joined the opposition front bench in October 2016 as Shadow Minister for Pensions, and was an re-elected in 2017 with an increased vote share but a swing towards the Conservatives.

[12] Cunningham resigned as a shadow minister in December 2017 after voting against the Labour whip, supporting an amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill proposing remaining in the customs union.