Catherine West | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2017 | |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific | |
| Assumed office 9 July 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Anne-Marie Trevelyan |
| Member of Parliament forHornsey and Friern Barnet Hornsey and Wood Green (2015–2024) | |
| Assumed office 7 May 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Lynne Featherstone |
| Majority | 21,475 (44.2%) |
| Leader ofIslington London Borough Council | |
| In office 6 May 2010 – 10 October 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Terry Stacy |
| Succeeded by | Richard Watts |
| Member ofIslington London Borough Council forTollington | |
| In office 2 May 2002 – 22 May 2014 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Catherine Elizabeth West (1966-09-14)14 September 1966 (age 58) Mansfield,Victoria, Australia |
| Citizenship |
|
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Colin Sutherland |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney (BA,BSW) SOAS, University of London (MA) |
| Website | Official website |
Catherine Elizabeth West (born 14 September 1966) is an Australian-born British politician who has served asMember of Parliament (MP) forHornsey and Friern Barnet, previouslyHornsey and Wood Green, since2015. A member of theLabour Party, she has served asParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific since 2024.
Catherine West was born on 14 September 1966 inMansfield, Australia.[1] She was one of four children to Janet (née Conti) and Roderick West.[2] Her parents were both teachers, and her father was Headmaster ofTrinity Grammar School in Sydney for 21 years. She is the great-great-niece of actressItalia Conti.
She grew up in Sydney and wasprivately educated atMeriden School andRavenswood School for Girls.[3] West studied modern languages and social work at theUniversity of Sydney, where she was awarded aBachelor of Arts and aBachelor of Social Work degree.[4][5] While studying there, she met her future husband Colin Sutherland. They lived together inDarwin, Northern Territory, where she worked as a social worker in a refuge for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
She moved to the United Kingdom in 1998 when her husband gained a job at theLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.[4] She then earnt amaster's degree in Chinese Studies from theSchool of Oriental and African Studies,University of London.[6]
West joined theLabour Party in 1998 and became a caseworker forTottenham MPDavid Lammy two years later.[4]
From 2 May 2002 to 22 May 2014, West was a member of theIslington London Borough Council representing theTollington Ward. She was the leader of the council's Labour Party group from 2004 to 10 October 2013 andCouncil Leader from 6 May 2010 to 10 October 2013. She resigned as councillor to contest the2015 general election.
West was elected to Parliament as MP forHornsey and Wood Green at the2015 general election with 50.9% of the vote and a majority of 11,058.[7][8][9]
Following theelection ofJeremy Corbyn asLeader of the Labour Party, whose campaign she supported, West was promoted to theOfficial Opposition frontbench as a Shadow Foreign Office Minister.[10]
During the2016 Brexit referendum, West was involved withBritain Stronger in Europe, campaigning for the UK to remain within the European Union, arguing that "Britain would be stronger, more prosperous, more secure and more peaceful" if they were to remain within the EU. West's constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green secured the highest remain vote of any constituency, with 81.5% voting to remain.[11] Following the EU referendum, West confirmed she would vote against invokingArticle 50 should a vote come before parliament.[12]
In January 2017, West voted against triggering Article 50 of theLisbon Treaty, the process to withdraw from theEuropean Union, along with 46 other Labour Party MPs.[13]
At the snap2017 general election, West was re-elected as MP for Hornsey and Wood Green with an increased vote share of 65.4% and an increased majority of 30,738.[14][15][16]
West was sacked from the Labour frontbench in June 2017 after she voted in favour of an amendment to theQueen's Speech which called on the UK to remain in theEuropean Single Market, in defiance of the Labourwhip.[17]
At the2019 general election, West was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 57.5% and a decreased majority of 19,242.[18][19][20]
West returned to the Labour frontbench in 2020 as shadow Sport minister,[21] prior to her promotion to the shadow Foreign Office team under new Labour Leader Sir Keir Stamer.[22] Due to the2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, West's constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green was abolished, and replaced withHornsey and Friern Barnet. At the2024 general election, West was elected to Parliament as MP for Hornsey and Friern Barnet with 58.7% of the vote and a majority of 21,475.[23]
On 11 July 2024, she was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.[24][25] Executive Councillor of Hong KongRonny Tong criticised her for having a clear political stance, suggesting it would be better for her to resign from her position at Hong Kong Watch. Both Beijing and the Hong Kong government have repeatedly describedHong Kong Watch as an anti-China organisation.[26] The organisation claims to have received a letter from theNational Security Department of HongKong Police Force indicating it was suspected of violating the2020 Hong Kong national security law.[27]
West is aQuaker.[28] She is married to Colin Sutherland, co-director of theLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine's Malaria Centre.[4][29] They met while studying at the University of Sydney. They have a daughter and a son.[30]
She is a dual British and Australian national.[31]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forHornsey and Wood Green 2015–2024 | Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament forHornsey and Friern Barnet 2024–present | Incumbent |
