Catherine West

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Catherine West

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MP}}

| image = Official portrait of Catherine West crop 2.jpg

| alt = Official portrait of Catherine West

| caption = Official portrait, 2017

| office = Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific

| primeminister = Keir Starmer

| predecessor = Anne-Marie Trevelyan

| term_start = 9 July 2024

| office1 = Member of Parliament
for Hornsey and Friern Barnet
{{nobold|Hornsey and Wood Green (2015–2024)}}

| term_start1 = 7 May 2015

| predecessor1 = Lynne Featherstone

| majority1 = 21,475 (44.2%)

| office2 = Leader of Islington London Borough Council

| term_start2 = 6 May 2010

| term_end2 = 10 October 2013

| predecessor2 = Terry Stacy

| successor2 = Richard Watts

| office3 = Member of Islington London Borough Council
for Tollington

| term_start3 = 2 May 2002

| term_end3 = 22 May 2014

| birth_name = Catherine Elizabeth West

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|9|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Mansfield, Victoria, Australia

| citizenship = {{hlist|Australia|United Kingdom}}

| spouse = Colin Sutherland

| children = 2

| party = Labour

| website = {{Official website|https://www.catherinewest.org.uk/}}

| alma_mater = University of Sydney (BA, BSW)
SOAS, University of London (MA)

}}

Catherine Elizabeth West (born 14 September 1966) is an Australian-born British politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Hornsey and Friern Barnet, previously Hornsey and Wood Green, since 2015. A member of the Labour Party, she has served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office since 2024.

Early life and career

Catherine West was born on 14 September 1966 in Mansfield, Australia.{{cite web |date= |title=Election results |url=http://camdennewjournal.com/article/council-elections-islington-ward-ward-results?sp=1&sq=Jessi%2520set%2520to%2520step%2520up |accessdate=2021-06-13 |publisher=camdennewjournal.com}} She was one of four children to Janet (née Conti) and Roderick West.{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/roderick-west-headmaster-who-inspired-thousands-of-pupils-and-teachers-20160202-gmja2r.html |title=Obituary: Headmaster who inspired thousands of pupils and teachers |date=February 2016 |access-date=26 February 2022}} Her parents were both teachers, and her father was Headmaster of Trinity Grammar School in Sydney for 21 years. She is the great-great-niece of actress Italia Conti.

She grew up in Sydney and was privately educated at Meriden School and Ravenswood School for Girls.{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/how-an-australian-expat-may-help-topple-a-british-prime-minister-20220205-p59u0f.html |title=How an Australian expat may help topple a British Prime Minister |date=24 February 2022 |access-date=26 February 2022}} West studied modern languages and social work at the University of Sydney, where she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Social Work degree.{{Cite web |title=Catherine West MP |url=https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/about/governance/board-of-trustees/catherine-west-mp |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=LSTM |language=en}} While studying there, she met her future husband Colin Sutherland. They lived together in Darwin, 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 the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. She then earnt a master's degree in Chinese Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.{{cite web|url=https://www.soas.ac.uk/blogs/study/soas-grads-election/|publisher=SOAS|date=19 May 2017|accessdate=30 October 2019|last=19 May 2017|title=Can you guess which single party four SOAS grads are representing in the election?}}

West joined the Labour Party in 1998 and became a caseworker for Tottenham MP David Lammy two years later.

From 2 May 2002 to 22 May 2014, West was a member of the Islington London Borough Council representing the Tollington Ward. She was the leader of the council's Labour Party group from 2004 to 10 October 2013 and Council Leader from 6 May 2010 to 10 October 2013. She resigned as councillor to contest the 2015 general election.

Parliamentary career

West was elected to Parliament as MP for Hornsey and Wood Green at the 2015 general election with 50.9% of the vote and a majority of 11,058.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000752 | title=Hornsey & Wood Green Parliamentary constituency | publisher=BBC | accessdate=7 May 2015}}{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}{{cite web |title=Haringey votes – Haringey Elections website |url=http://voting.haringey.gov.uk/#a-hwg |website=voting.haringey.gov.uk}}

Following the election of Jeremy Corbyn as Leader of the Labour Party, whose campaign she supported, West was promoted to the Official Opposition frontbench as a Shadow Foreign Office Minister.{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/catherine-west/4523|title=Catherine West MP|accessdate=30 October 2019|publisher=parliament.uk}}

During the 2016 Brexit referendum, West was involved with Britain 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.{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/@chrishanretty/the-eu-referendum-how-did-westminster-constituencies-vote-283c85cd20e1|title=The EU referendum: how did Westminster constituencies vote?|first=Chris|last=Hanretty|date=29 June 2016|accessdate=17 June 2017}} Following the EU referendum, West confirmed she would vote against invoking Article 50 should a vote come before parliament.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/CatherineWest1/status/747473464014036992|title=75% of my constituents voted to remain in the EU. I stand w/ them on this issue & I will vote against Brexit #EUrefpic.twitter.com/TX0lUC5Csb|first=Catherine|last=West|date=27 June 2016|accessdate=17 June 2017}}

In January 2017, West voted against triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the process to withdraw from the European Union, along with 46 other Labour Party MPs.{{cite web |last=Sparrow |first=Andrew |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2017/feb/01/article-50-debate-vote-bill-pmqs-theresa-may-jeremy-corbyn-ivan-rogers-to-give-evidence-to-mps-about-why-he-quit-as-uks-ambassador-to-eu-politics-live |title=MPs vote to give May power to trigger article 50 – as it happened |work=The Guardian|date=1 February 2017|accessdate=17 June 2017}}

At the snap 2017 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.{{cite news |title=Hornsey & Wood Green parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000752 |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation}}{{cite web |title=General Election 2017 in Haringey – Results |url=http://voting.haringey.gov.uk/#a-hwg |access-date=9 June 2017 |publisher=London Borough of Haringey}}{{cite web |date=29 January 2019 |orig-date=7 April 2018 |title=Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7979/CBP-7979.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112183438/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7979/CBP-7979.pdf |archive-date=12 November 2019 |publisher=House of Commons Library |edition=Second}}

West was sacked from the Labour frontbench in June 2017 after she voted in favour of an amendment to the Queen's Speech which called on the UK to remain in the European Single Market, in defiance of the Labour whip.{{cite news |last=Asthana|first=Anushka|author-link=Anushka Asthana |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/29/jeremy-corbyn-sacks-three-frontbenchers-after-single-market-vote |title=Jeremy Corbyn sacks three frontbenchers after single market vote |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=29 June 2017 |access-date=29 June 2017}}

At the 2019 general election, West was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 57.5% and a decreased majority of 19,242.{{cite web |last=Etheridge |first=Zina |date=15 November 2019 |title=Statement of persons nominated and notice of poll. Election of a Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green |url=http://www.haringey.gov.uk/sites/haringeygovuk/files/sopn_hornsey_and_wood_green_2019_ukpge.pdf |publisher=Haringey London Borough Council}}{{cite news |date=13 December 2019 |title=Hornsey & Wood Green parliamentary constituency – Election 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000752 |work=BBC News}}{{cite web |date=28 January 2020 |title=Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8749/CBP-8749.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118043715/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8749/CBP-8749.pdf |archive-date=18 November 2021 |access-date=19 January 2022 |publisher=House of Commons Library |location=London}}

West returned to the Labour frontbench in 2020 as shadow Sport minister,{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/CatherineWest1/status/1217105396424486916|title=I am delighted to be appointed as shadow Sports Minister, following in the footsteps of the excellent @DrRosena. I am determined to use my time taking on some of the big issues in sport, particularly following the racist abuse Haringey Borough FC experienced last year|website=Twitter.com|access-date=23 July 2022}} prior to her promotion to the shadow Foreign Office team under new Labour Leader Sir Keir Stamer.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/lisanandy/status/1248303013015490560|title=So pleased that @CatherineWest1 @FabianLeedsNE @SKinnock @SDoughtyMP @WayneDavid_MP have joined the @UKLabour FCO team. Every single one brings huge expertise and passion. Proud to be working with them all|website=Twitter.com|access-date=23 July 2022}}

Due to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, West's constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green was abolished, and replaced with Hornsey and Friern Barnet. At the 2024 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.{{cite web |date=5 July 2024 |title=General Election 2024 |url=https://new.haringey.gov.uk/council-elections/elections-voting/previous-election-results/general-election-results/general-election-2024 |access-date=10 July 2024 |publisher=London Borough of Haringey}}

On 11 July 2024, she was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.{{Cite web |title=Ministerial Appointments: July 2024 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-july-2024 |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Indo-Pacific) - GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--247 |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=www.gov.uk |language=en}} Executive Councillor of Hong Kong Ronny 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 described Hong Kong Watch as an anti-China organisation.{{Cite news |title=英國關注港人組織HK WATCH贊助人衛倩婷 |url=https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/uk-hkwatch-07112024065042.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawD82v9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHRdHrNt5XEUYWDD7ZFUYgv6Ld_eCJ6LzwqcJkEf6CWn-jF343fuak084Tg_aem_AyfovcXUgEDq2Zw1t29Dcw}} The organisation claims to have received a letter from the National Security Department of HongKong Police Force indicating it was suspected of violating the 2020 Hong Kong national security law.{{Cite web |title=英外交部新次官為香港監察贊助人 |url=https://life.mingpao.com/general/article?issue=20240711&nodeid=1720637036584 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=明報教育網 |language=zh-tw}}

Personal life

West is a Quaker.{{cite news | title = First Quaker MPs elected in a decade | url = http://www.quaker.org.uk/news/first-quaker-mps-elected-decade/ | work = Quakers in Britain | publisher = Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) | date = 8 May 2015 | accessdate = 24 May 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150524100057/http://www.quaker.org.uk/news/first-quaker-mps-elected-decade/ | archive-date = 24 May 2015 | url-status = dead }} She is married to Colin Sutherland, co-director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine's Malaria Centre.{{cite news|url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/seasonal/election/labour-s-catherine-west-i-know-how-to-beat-liberal-democrats-1-3989028|work=Ham & High|title=Labour's Catherine West: 'I know how to beat Liberal Democrats'|last=Lamden|first=Tim|date=13 March 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/aboutus/people/sutherland.colin|title=Colin Sutherland|publisher=London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine|accessdate=29 October 2019}} They met while studying at the University of Sydney. They have a daughter and a son.{{cite news|url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/politics/special-report-catherine-west-mp-reflects-on-her-first-six-months-in-parliament-1-4342784|title=Special Report: Catherine West MP reflects on her first six months in Parliament|date=20 December 2015|accessdate=3 July 2019|work=Ham & High}}

She is a dual British and Australian national.{{cite web|last=Bourke|first=Latika|date=2018-05-13|title='Utterly absurd': British MPs question Australia's ban on dual citizens|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/utterly-absurd-british-mps-question-australia-s-ban-on-dual-citizens-20180510-p4zed6.html|access-date=2020-06-14|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}

References

External links

{{Official website|https://www.catherinewest.org.uk }}{{UK MP links |parliament=catherine-west/4523 |publicwhip=Catherine_West |theywork=catherine_west}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Hornsey and Wood Green|years=2015–2024}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Hornsey and Friern Barnet|years=2024–present}}

Category:1966 births

Category:21st-century British women politicians

Category:21st-century English women

Category:21st-century English politicians

Category:Alumni of SOAS University of London

Category:Australian expatriates in England

Category:British people of Australian descent

Category:Councillors in the London Borough of Islington

Category:English Quakers

Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies