About Catherine
Standing up for Newcastle North
Catherine has been the Member of Parliament for the Newcastle North constituency since 2010.
She also currently serves as the Minister for School Standards in the Department for Education.
Catherine lives in the constituency with her husband, their three children and AJ, their adopted former service German Shepherd.
Life before Parliament
Born and raised in the West End of Newcastle, Catherine’s roots in the city are deep.
After attending Sacred Heart in Fenham, she went on to study at Edinburgh University and Northumbria University. At university, she was involved with campaigning on human rights and social justice issues.
Before being elected to Parliament, she worked as an employment solicitor with a large law firm in Newcastle.
A campaigning MP
Catherine has been very active as an MP since being elected in 2010, advocating for the causes that matter most to her and to the people of Newcastle North.
She is a strong voice in Parliament for Newcastle and the North East, and has campaigned on many issues including the cost of living, child poverty, the NHS, public services and transport.
Shadow frontbench experience
While in opposition, Catherine held several roles in Labour’s Shadow Frontbench. These included Shadow Attorney General, Shadow Solicitor General, Shadow Minister for Children and Families and Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury.
In 2023, Catherine was appointed as Shadow Schools Minister, working with Bridget Phillipson MP in Labour’s education team.
Parliamentary
Experience
Across her 15 years in Parliament, Catherine has served on many parliamentary bodies to champion causes and call for action.
From 2020 to 2023, she chaired the influential Petitions Committee, leading inquiries and debates on a wide range of topics, from supporting Ukrainian refugees to water safety, and online harms to school holiday hunger. She has also served as a member of the Education Select Committee and Treasury Select Committee in the past.
As well as this, she founded the All Party Parliamentary Group on the East Coast Mainline, and was Deputy Chair of the Armed Forces APPG, leading on the RAF. She has also graduated from the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.
Minister for School Standards
In July 2024, Catherine was appointed as a Minister of State in the Department for Education. As the Minister for School Standards, she is focused on delivering the Government’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity for every child in every community.