Kate Dearden
Kate Dearden | |
|---|---|
| Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Minister of State for the Future of Work | |
| Assumed office 21 July 2026 | |
| Prime Minister | Andy Burnham |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection | |
| In office 7 September 2025–21 July 2026 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Justin Madders |
| Succeeded by | Herself as Minister of State |
| Assistant Government Whip | |
| In office 18 July 2024–7 September 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Member of Parliament for Halifax | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Holly Lynch |
| Majority | 6,269 (15.5%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kate Alexandra Dearden April1994 (age32) Bingley, West Yorkshire, England |
| Party | Labour Co-op |
| Education | University of Edinburgh (MA) |
Kate Dearden (born April 1994)[1] is an English Labour and Co-operative politician who has served as Member of Parliament for Halifax since 2024. She previously worked for trade union Community.
Early life and career
[edit ]Dearden was born and raised in Bingley, West Yorkshire, and attended St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic College in Bradford.[2] She studied for MA (Hons) International Relations at the University of Edinburgh,[3] where she was Chair of Edinburgh Labour Students and campaigned for equal marriage in Scotland.[2]
During her third year at university, Dearden worked as a Campaign Organiser for Ian Murray MP, before working for Kezia Dugdale MSP (then leader of Scottish Labour and Member of Scottish Parliament for Lothian) in her fourth year.[4]
After graduating, Dearden served as Chair of the National Labour Students Committee until June 2017,[5] having begun working as a Campaigns Officer for the Labour Party in April.[4] Whilst Chair of the Labour Students, Dearden launched training against antisemitism at the Oxford University Labour Club.[6] [7]
Dearden worked for Community Union from 2017–2024.[8] Beginning as a Research and Campaigns Officer in October 2017, Dearden was then promoted to be Head of Research, Policy & External Relations in January 2020.[4]
Parliamentary career
[edit ]Dearden attempted to stand as a candidate in the 2022 Wakefield by-election,[8] [9] but was not selected.[10]
Dearden was elected as Member of Parliament for Halifax in the 2024 United Kingdom general election, succeeding the former Labour MP for Halifax, Holly Lynch, who stood down.[2] [11] [12] Dearden was appointed Assistant Whip, House of Commons on 18 July 2024.[13]
From 2025, she has offered cost of living advice surgeries to her constituents.[14] [15] She has advocated for a review of fireworks law in the United Kingdom.[16]
In July 2026, she was appointed to the new government as Minister of State at the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade by Andy Burnham.[17] She confirmed following her appointment that she will serve as Minister of State for the Future of Work.[18] [19]
References
[edit ]- ↑ "Kate Dearden". mps.macemagazine.com. Mace Magazine. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 Blackburn, Ralph (17 November 2024). "Kate Dearden: meet the new Halifax MP with trade unions 'in my blood'". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ↑ Greenwood, John (10 June 2024). "Labour announce candidate hoping to keep Halifax for the party after Holly Lynch steps down". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Kate Dearden MP". Linkedin. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
- ↑ Dickinson, Jim (1 July 2024). "The former student leaders entering Parliament". Wonkhe. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ↑ Frommer, Rachel (13 February 2017). "UK Labour Party Student Group Launches New Antisemitism Education Program in Effort to Repair Relations With Jewish Community". The Algemeiner. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ↑ Mendel, Jack (15 February 2017). "Labour student chair: Party must stand 'in solidarity' with Jews". Jewish News. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- 1 2 "Wakefield Labour candidate chosen after committee walks out". BBC News. 15 May 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ↑ Chappell, Elliot (11 May 2022). "Wakefield Labour is speedily picking a candidate. Here's what is happening". LabourList. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ↑ Chappell, Elliot (13 May 2022). "Exclusive: Labour accused of breaching rules in Wakefield candidate selection". LabourList. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ↑ "Halifax – General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ↑ Chippindale, Jane (10 July 2024). "Kate Dearden MP: I'm here in Westminster to serve the people of Halifax, to ensure everyone's voice is heard". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ↑ "Assistant Whip, House of Commons". Gov.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ↑ Chippindale, Jane (19 February 2025). "Kate Dearden MP: Paving the way for a more resilient energy future for everyone". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ↑ Dearden, Kate (16 April 2025). "Kate Dearden MP: Tackling the cost of living". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ↑ "Halifax MP launches Government review of firework laws". Halifax Courier. 20 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ "Round up of Burnham's ministerial appointments". LabourList . 21 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ "Kate Dearden MP (@Kate_Dearden) on X". X (formerly Twitter). 22 July 2026. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- ↑ Martin, Dan (23 July 2026). "Andy Burnham set to appoint new small business minister". SME Magazine. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
External links
[edit ]- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Voting record at Public Whip
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
- Profile on OpenSanctions, an open database of sanctions and persons of interest
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Precededby | Member of Parliament for Halifax 2024–present |
Incumbent |
- 1994 births
- Living people
- People from Bingley
- People from Halifax, West Yorkshire
- Labour Co-operative MPs for English constituencies
- 21st-century British women politicians
- UK MPs 2024–present
- British women trade unionists
- Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies
- Women government ministers in the United Kingdom