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.
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]
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]