Catherine Fookes

Catherine Fookes
MP
Official Portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for Monmouthshire
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded byDavid TC Davies
Majority3,338 (6.5%)
Monmouthshire County Councillor for Town Ward
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 May 2022
Preceded byWard established
Personal details
BornOctober 1970
Political partyLabour
Alma materGodolphin School
WebsiteOfficial website

Catherine Ann Fookes (born October 1970) is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Monmouthshire since 2024.

Background

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Fookes was born in 1970[1] and was educated at the private Godolphin School, which costs £13,000 a term to attend.[2] She worked in the private sector and later served as chief executive of Women's Equality Network Wales and chair of the Welsh think tank, Fabians Cymru.[3]

In 2017 Fookes was appointed director of the Women's Equality Network Wales.[4]

Political career

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In 2017 Fookes contested the Wyesham ward on Monmouthshire County Council. She came second, by 24 votes, to the Welsh Conservatives' Laura Anne Jones.[5][6] In 2022 she was successfully elected to the Council, representing the Town ward in Monmouth.[7]

While on the council she job-shared the equalities and engagement portfolio on the council. As a councillor on Monmouthshire County Council, Fookes voted in favour of increasing council tax.[8][9] She quit her portfolio and job for Women's Equality Network Wales in 2023, after being selected as Labour parliamentary candidate for the 2024 UK general election and to work on the campaign full-time.[10][11]

In the 2024 general election, Fookes was elected as MP for Monmouthshire with a majority of 3,338 (6.5%), defeating former Secretary of State for Wales David TC Davies.[3] On 17 July, Fookes announced her intention to resign her role as a councillor with a statement on social media, saying she would stand down "after the summer," saying she wished to avoid a by-election for her constituents in the summer holidays.[12]

In October 2024, Fookes was elected to the Women and Equalities Select Committee[13]

Donations and expenses

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During the 2024 general election Fookes accumulated more than £25,000 from trade unions and donors, and spent it on her campaign. [14]

Views and voting record

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In January 2024, Fookes came out in favour of more devolution for the Welsh Parliament, including criminal justice.[15]

In September 2024, Fookes voted in favour of scrapping the £300 a year winter fuel allowance to pensioners.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Catherine Ann Fookes – Companies House". gov.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  2. ^ https://www.godolphin.org/
  3. ^ a b Owen, Twm (5 July 2024). "General election 2024: Labour win in Monmouthshire". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  4. ^ Fookes, Catherine (29 September 2017). "WEN Wales Announces New Director". Womens Equality Network Wales. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Election results for Wyesham, 4 May 2017". Monmouthshire County Council. 4 May 2017. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Wyesham Ward". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Election results for Town, 5 May 2022". monmouthshire sir fynwy. 5 May 2022. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  8. ^ Haines, Chris (15 May 2024). "Welsh Government bumps council tax reform plans". Abergavenny Chronicle. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Councillor Catherine Fookes voting record". democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024.
  10. ^ Owen, Twm (17 May 2023). "Monmouthshire cabinet: Catherine Fookes and Tudor Thomas out". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Councillor details – County Councillor Catherine Fookes – Modern Council". Monmouthshire Sir Fynwy. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  12. ^ Price, Emily (17 July 2024). "Newly elected Welsh MP steps down as councillor". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  13. ^ Fookes, Catherine. "Catherine Fookes elected member of the Women and Equalities Select Committee". X (Formerly known as Twitter).
  14. ^ https://members.parliament.uk/member/5291/registeredinterests
  15. ^ "We need further devolution to Wales, including over the criminal justice and probation service argues @CatherineFookes. Labour governments in Wales and Westminster will lead to mutual respect, which will help everyone". X (formerly Twitter). 20 January 2024. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024.
  16. ^ "How local MPs voted on the winter fuel debate". Monmouthshire Beacon. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
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