I consider myself lucky to have both northern and southern roots. I was raised in a market town in Lancashire, about the size of Horncastle. I went to school in Blackpool and could hear the screams from the Pleasure Beach whilst sitting in class!
I was the first member of my family to go to university, reading law at Cambridge University. I wanted to be a criminal barrister, so went to the Capital of Crime - London - to practise. I specialised in prosecuting serious organised crime.
It was a privilege to represent the decent, law-abiding majority in my work prosecuting hardened criminals. I have prosecuted international drug trafficking rings, gun-runners and fraudsters who steal £100s million from British taxpayers. I am one of only 30 advocates in England and Wales appointed to the prestigious Attorney General’s Regulators Panel and the Serious Fraud Office’s List of specialist fraud prosecutors. I hope to put my experiences in the criminal courts to good use in the political world.
I was first elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2017, 2019 and most recently in 2024. I have spoken up for the constituency of Louth & Horncastle on a range of issues, including the provision of rural broadband, defence, wind turbines, coastal issues, roads, schools, the health service and the importance of the rural way of life.
I have hosted public meetings including on pylon proposals, a Jobs & Apprenticeships Fair, Older People's Fair, Community Summits, Flood Forums and a Broadband Summit. I meet regularly with constituents and I have enjoyed visiting schools, businesses, farms and attending community events.
My husband Paul works for a food company. We like to spend what little spare time we have going to running around after our son, Monty, building sandcastles on the beautiful Lincolnshire coastline and pulling our boots on to walk the Wolds.
In November 2024, I was pleased to be appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs. In this role I want to hold this government to account on the serious and urgent challenges of food security, climate change, flooding and the survival of family farms.
Previous Political Roles
- In November 2017, I was delighted to be appointed to the Home Office, a team whose central purpose is to keep the people of this country safe and secure
- In September 2021, I moved to the Ministry of Justice where I was able to carry on this work.
- At the start of 2018, the centenary year of some women gaining the right to vote for the first time, it was an honour to be Minister for Women between 2018-2020.
- I was further honoured in October 2022 to be appointed as the Financial Secretary to the Treasury working in government to stabilise the markets and build a bright future.
- In November 2023, I was thrilled to become the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care. My belief in our National Health Service, and its founding principles, is one of the reasons I came into politics and as Secretary of State my agenda was simple – to make the NHS and our social care system simpler, faster and fairer.
- Following the July 2024 General Election, I maintained scrutiny of these important principles in opposition as Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.