Carolyn Harris

Carolyn Harris (born 18 September 1960 in Swansea, Wales) is a British politician who the Labour Member of Parliament for Swansea East since May 2015. She is also the Deputy Leader of Welsh Labour.

Early life
Carolyn Harris was born in the constituency of Swansea East which she now represents in Parliament. She attended Swansea University from 1994-1998 and studied a joint degree in Social History and Social Policy.

Following university, Harris worked for Swansea-based community projects such as the Guiding Hand Association and then the Joshua Foundation. Before her political career she worked as the Parliamentary assistant of her now predecessor Siân James MP, who announced her intention to step down in March 2015.

Election
Harris was elected to Parliament in 2015. She gave her maiden speech on 8 June 2015 in which she stated that Dylan Thomas was wrong about "this ugly, lovely town."

During her first year in Parliament she has concentrated on issues such as the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon, electrification of the South Wales mainline to Swansea and many consumer issues such as fixed odds betting terminals and faulty electrical goods. She has previously worked as a barmaid and a dinner lady which was mentioned as part of her earlier life experience of losing her son.

Harris was appointed by Jeremy Corbyn MP to the role of Shadow Home Office Minister after his re-election as UK Labour Party leader.

Deputy Leadership
Harris was elected the first ever Deputy Leader of Welsh Labour on the 21 April 2018. Harris secured 51.5% of the vote, which was announced at Welsh Labour conference in Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Campaigns
Harris has led many successful campaigns during her time in Parliament.

After losing her son Martin in 1989, Harris was forced to take out a loan and rely on donations from the community to cover the funeral costs. Not wanting other parents to suffer the same hardship, Harris spoke about her grief in an adjournment debate on 28 November 2016 and went on to press the Government to create a Children's Funeral Fund. The fund was announced in Wales at Welsh Labour conference on 25 March 2017, by Theresa May for England on 31 March 2018 and Scotland most recently on 30 May 2018.

Following a two year campaign to reduce the maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals from £100 per spin to £2, on 17 May 2018 the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport announced that they would be reducing the stake in line with Harris's suggestion of £2 a spin.