Catherine Fookes | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister | |
| Assumed office 11 September 2025 Serving with Abena Oppong-Asare andJon Pearce | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Chris Ward Liz Twist |
| Member of Parliament forMonmouthshire | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | David TC Davies |
| Majority | 3,338 (6.5%) |
| Monmouthshire County Councillor for Town Ward | |
| In office 5 May 2022 – 22 September 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Ward established |
| Succeeded by | Martin Newell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1970-10-21)21 October 1970 (age 55) |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | |
| Website | Official website |
Catherine Ann Fookes (born October 1970) is a BritishLabour Party politician who has been theMember of Parliament (MP) forMonmouthshire since2024 and since 2025 is a Parliamentary Private Secretary to Prime MinisterKeir Starmer.[1]
Fookes was born in 1970[2] and was educated at the private boarding schoolGodolphin School inSalisbury. She later studied atMiddlesex Polytechnic studying Business studies and French, and later she did a Masters inDevelopment Studies at theUniversity of Bath.[3]
Fookes worked as a Campaigner atActionAid, Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming and the Organic Trade Board. She served as a board member on the Food and Drink Wales industry board helping to grow and promote the industry in Wales.[1] In 2017 she becameCEO of the Women's Equality Network Wales[4] and chair of the Welshthink tank, Fabians Cymru.[5] She is a member of theFabian Society's executive committee.[6]
In2017 Fookes contested theWyesham ward onMonmouthshire County Council. She came second, by 24 votes, to the Welsh Conservatives'Laura Anne Jones.[7][8] In2022 she was successfully elected to the Council, representing the Town ward in Monmouth.[9]
While on the council she job-shared the equalities and engagement portfolio on the council. 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 the2024 United Kingdom general election, Fookes raised more than £20,000 from trade unions to fight her campaign.[12]
In the2024 general election, Fookes was elected asMP forMonmouthshire with a majority of 3,338 (6.5%), defeating formerSecretary of State for WalesDavid TC Davies.[5] 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.[13] Fookes resigned her seat in September 2024,[14] with the following by-election won by Martin Newell, theConservative candidate.[15]
In October 2024, Fookes was elected to theWomen and Equalities Select Committee[16]
In herSouth Wales Argus column, she vowed to end river pollution by 2029, naming it her "top priority".[17][18]
In January 2025, Fookes was elected as a Co-Chair for theAll-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Western Gateway - a body aimed at boosting economic development in Wales - but the group was forced to close in April 2025, after the UK and Welsh Governments cancelled its funding.[19][20]
In the September 2025 reshuffle, Prime MinisterKeir Starmer appointed Fookes as one of his parliamentary private secretaries.[21]
In January 2024, Fookes came out in favour of moredevolution for the Welsh Parliament, including criminal justice.[22]
In July 2024, Fookes came out and defended embattled First MinisterVaughan Gething, stating: "He has my full support". Gething ended up resigning the following month.[23][24]
In January 2025, Fookes voted against holding a national inquiry into grooming gangs.[25]
In November 2024, Fookes voted in favour of removing winter fuel allowance to pensioners.[26][27]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| New constituency | Member of Parliament forMonmouthshire 2024–present | Incumbent |
