Mike Kane

Michael Joseph Patrick Kane (born 9 January 1969) is a British Labour Party politician who was elected as Member of Parliament for Wythenshawe and Sale East on 13 February 2014. The by-election was held following the death of Paul Goggins MP.

Early life
Kane is the son of Joseph and Kathleen (née McGirl) Kane, Irish immigrants who migrated separately to Manchester in 1955.

He attended St Aidan's Primary School in Northern Moor; he moved on to St Paul's RC High School in Newall Green before studying for his A Levels at Loreto College, Hulme, Manchester. He graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a BA in Social Sciences in 1997 and a PGCE in 1999.

Career
Kane was a primary school teacher, at Springfield Primary School, Sale, before working in politics.

Political career
Kane joined the Labour Party at 18. In 1991 he was elected to Manchester City Council in Northenden ward, gaining his seat from the Conservatives (the sitting councillor stood as an Independent Conservative against her replacement, but Kane had more votes than both put together). He was re-elected in 1995, 1999 and 2003, and then topped the poll in 2004 on new ward boundaries. Kane was appointed Executive Member for Arts and Leisure in 2007.

When his seat came up for re-election in 2008, he was defeated by eight votes, losing to the Liberal Democrat candidate.

Kane backed David Miliband in the 2010 Labour leadership election.

Kane worked behind the scenes for a number of politicians, including Jonathan Reynolds, MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, as his office manager. He was also a parliamentary assistant to James Purnell, the previous MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, and Jonathan Reynolds. He worked for Tameside Council as a Senior Executive Assistant based in the council leader's office. In July 2013 Kane became the acting chief executive of Movement for Change, an organisation set up by David Miliband to run local political campaigns and train organisers.

On 24 January 2014, he was selected as the Labour candidate for the Wythenshawe and Sale East by-election. He was subsequently elected Member of Parliament for Wythenshawe and Sale East with 13,261 votes.

In October 2016, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Education with responsibility for Schools in Jeremy Corbyn's front bench team.

Personal life
Kane is married to Sandra Bracegirdle. He plays a number of wind instruments including the Uilleann pipes, bagpipes and the flute. He is a Manchester City Football Club (MCFC) season ticket holder, and like his predecessor as MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, Paul Goggins, he managed to bring Manchester City into his maiden speech in the House of Commons. His early claim to fame was 'playing at Maine Road' (the former home of MCFC): he was playing the pipes in a music performance before a game there. In August 2015, Kane won the Northenden boat race.

Kane is a Roman Catholic.