Miriam Cates

Taking the seat by an impressive 7,210 votes, Miriam Cates became the first ever Conservative MP for Penistone & Stocksbridge at the 2019 general election. Born and raised in Sheffield, Cates studied genetics at Cambridge before embarking on a teaching career back in her home city. In 2015, she was elected for her first political role as a parish councillor for the Oughtibridge ward of the Bradfield parish council, the largest in England, a role which Cates continues to perform alongside her parliamentary duties following re-election in 2019. Despite co-owning an app that she launched with her husband back in 2014 to support local foodbanks, Cates recently voted against the government’s motion to provide free school meals to children during the school holidays. A staunch advocate against politicians’ use of Twitter for the “harm and angst” it causes, some commentators tip Cates as a future Conservative party leader.