Tracy Brabin



Tracy Lynn Brabin MP (born 9 May 1961) has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Batley and Spen since October 2016, following a by-election after the murder of Jo Cox. She retained her seat in the 2017 general election as a Labour and Co-operative candidate and in July 2017, was promoted by Jeremy Corbyn to Shadow Minister for Early Years, following the resignation of Tulip Siddiq.

Prior to entering politics, Brabin was an actress and television writer, having appeared in several British soap operas, including Coronation Street, EastEnders and Casualty.

Political activity
Brabin publicly endorsed the Labour Party at the 1997 general election, writing an article for the Labour-supporting Daily Mirror newspaper explaining that her father-in-law had died on a hospital trolley while waiting to see a doctor. In May 1998 she appeared in a Party Political Broadcast for the party appealing for people to join it. Brabin was the lead member of a group of nine actors to write to The Observer explaining that while they continued to oppose the Blair government's military intervention in Iraq, they still "strongly support the re-election of a Labour government". She canvassed for the Labour Party in the Kirklees council election in 2012.

When Jo Cox was selected as Labour candidate for Batley and Spen, Brabin joined her campaign against the closure of libraries in the constituency. In August 2016, Brabin said that she was considering standing in the Batley and Spen by-election, caused by Jo Cox's murder. On 19 September, she was shortlisted along with Labour activist Jane Thomas. Brabin was selected at a meeting on 23 September. The Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats, Green Party and UKIP did not field candidates as a mark of respect to Cox.

On 20 October 2016, Brabin was elected with an increased majority of around 10,000. She was then sworn in on 24 October. Brabin made her maiden speech in the House of Commons on 2 November, paying tribute to her predecessor, who she described as "inspirational". The speech won applause from fellow MPs. Brabin retained the seat in the 2017 general election, with a majority of just under 9,000 over the Conservative Party candidate. On 3 July 2017 she was appointed as Shadow Early Years Minister by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.