Catherine McKinnell

Catherine McKinnell has served as the Labour MP for Newcastle Upon Tyne North since 2010. Following her election success, McKinnell sat as a member of the political and constitutional reform committee before becoming shadow solicitor general. This role saw her most notably tackle the News International phone hacking scandal. In addition to this role, McKinnell has also served as shadow minister for children and young families, shadow exchequer secretary and shadow economic secretary to the Treasury. She currently serves as chair of the Petitions Committee and sits on the Liaison Committee. Before becoming an MP, McKinnell studied law and went on to work as an employment solicitor in the Newcastle-based firm Dickinson Dees. Her legal background led to McKinnell being appointed shadow attorney general in 2015, however she resigned due to “party infighting, family reasons, and the ability to [now] speak in parliament beyond her legal portfolio.” McKinnell works with a number of All-Party Parliamentary Groups, including the East Coast Main Line, Parliamentary Friends of CAFOD, Hadrian’s Wall, Fairtrade, Responsible Tax and State Pension Inequality for Women. She has vocally criticised Jeremy Corbyn’s approach to tackling party anti-Semitism.