Catherine Fookes Explained

Honorific Suffix:MP
Office:Member of Parliament
for Monmouthshire
Predecessor:David TC Davies
Term Start:4 July 2024
Majority:3,338 (6.5%)
Party:Labour
Office1:Monmouthshire County Councillor for Town Ward
Term Start1:5 May 2022
Predecessor1:Ward established

Catherine Ann Fookes (born October 1970)[1] is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Monmouthshire since 2024.

Background

Educated at Godolphin School, Fookes 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.[2]

Political career

In 2017 Fookes contested the Wyesham ward on Monmouthshire County Council. She came second, by 24 votes, to the Welsh Conservatives' Laura Anne Jones.[3] [4] In 2022 she was successfully elected to the Council, representing the Town ward in Monmouth.[5]

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.[6] [7] 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.[8] [9]

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. 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.[10]

In January 2024, Fookes came out in favour of more devolution for the Welsh Parliament, including criminal justice.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Catherine Ann Fookes - Companies House . 6 July 2024 . gov.uk.
  2. News: Twm . Owen . General election 2024: Labour win in Monmouthshire . . 5 July 2024 . 2024-07-05 .
  3. Web site: 2017-05-04 . Election results for Wyesham, 4 May 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240707220151/https://democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=249&RPID=32570874 . 2024-07-07 . 2024-07-07 . Monmouthshire County Council . en.
  4. Web site: Wyesham Ward . 2024-07-07 . Local Elections Archive Project.
  5. Web site: 2022-05-05 . Election results for Town, 5 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925230509/https://democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=405 . 2023-09-25 . 2024-07-07 . monmouthshire sir fynwy . en.
  6. News: Haines . Chris . 15 May 2024 . Welsh Government bumps council tax reform plans . 27 July 2024 . Abergavenny Chronicle.
  7. Web site: Catherine Fookes Councillor voting record . live . Monmouthshire Sir Fynwy.
  8. News: Twm . Owen . Monmouthshire cabinet: Catherine Fookes and Tudor Thomas out . South Wales Argus . 17 May 2023 . 2024-07-04 .
  9. Web site: Councillor details - County Councillor Catherine Fookes - Modern Council . https://web.archive.org/web/20240707220716/https://democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=1860&RPID=32570969 . 2024-07-07 . 2024-07-07 . Monmouthshire Sir Fynwy.
  10. Web site: Price . Emily . 2024-07-17 . Newly elected Welsh MP steps down as councillor . 2024-07-27 . Nation.Cymru . en-GB.
  11. Web site: 2024-01-20 . 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).