Kerry McCarthy

McCarthy was born in Luton,[https://books.google.com/books?id=K7pDAQAAIAAJ&q=Oliver+Haughney+Sheila+Rix+mccarthy Dod's parliamentary companion], Google Books where she attended Denbigh High School, followed by Luton Sixth Form College. McCarthy studied at the University of Liverpool reading Russian studies, before studying law at City of London Polytechnic.

McCarthy qualified as a solicitor in 1994 and worked as a lawyer for Abbey National Treasury Services (1994–1996), Merrill Lynch Europe (1996–1999) and the Labour Party (2001). She was a director of London Luton Airport Ltd (1999–2003), a director at Britain in Europe (2002–2004), and Head of Public Policy at the Waterfront Partnership (2004–2005).{{Who's Who |title=McCarthy, Kerry |id=U45722 |edition=Nov 2016 online |access-date=19 December 2016}}

McCarthy began a doctorate on Labour links with the City of London at Goldsmiths' College, but did not complete it.[https://books.google.com/books?id=YnAmle9e7AMC&dq=kerry+mccarthy++luton&pg=PA230 The Almanac of British Politics], Google Books; accessed 26 December 2013. She was a councillor in Luton, and was a member of Labour's National Policy Forum.

In 2005, McCarthy was selected as the Labour candidate for Bristol East through an all-women shortlist{{Cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/kerry-mccarthy/1491 | title=Kerry McCarthy at UK Parliament website |access-date=2 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915134146/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/kerry-mccarthy/1491 |archive-date=15 September 2017 |url-status=live }} and retained the seat for her party at the 2005 general election. She was appointed a member of the Treasury Select Committee, and was involved in its inquiries into financial inclusion, globalisation and the role of the International Monetary Fund, and the administration of tax credits. She has also sat on two Finance Bill committees, as well as the UK Borders Bill Committee, the Offender Management Bill Committee and the Mental Health Bill Committee. She was described as a Gordon Brown loyalist, stating in 2005 that "The Chancellor's nine Budgets are the bedrock of all that we have achieved in government".

In April 2007, McCarthy was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Rosie Winterton, Minister for Health Services, and helped her steer the Mental Health Bill through the Commons. From July 2007 to January 2009, she worked as PPS to Douglas Alexander, the Secretary of State for International Development, before being made a Junior Whip in June 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Kerry_McCarthy&mpc=Bristol_East&house=commons|title=Voting Record – Kerry McCarthy|publisher=The Public Whip|access-date=4 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302212831/http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Kerry_McCarthy&mpc=Bristol_East&house=commons|archive-date=2 March 2010|url-status=live}} She is chair of the South West Group of Labour MP.

She was re-elected at the 2010 General Election, with her majority reduced by more than a half.{{Cite web |url=http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/bristoleast |title=ukpollingreport.co.uk » Bristol East |access-date=16 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920031241/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/bristoleast/ |archive-date=20 September 2016 |url-status=live }} McCarthy was appointed as an acting Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions in May 2010 with responsibility for disability.{{cite news|title=Democracy Live – Your representatives: Kerry McCarthy|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/39440.stm|url-status=live|access-date=16 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512052358/http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/39440.stm|archive-date=12 May 2011}} She supported Ed Balls in the 2010 Labour leadership election,[https://archive.today/20120914060119/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/MP-chooses-sides-Labour-leadership-battle/article-2180249-detail/article.html MP Kerry McCarthy chooses sides in Labour leadership battle], thisisbristol.co.uk; accessed 26 December 2013. and became a junior Shadow Treasury Minister following Ed Miliband's election in October 2010.[http://www.politics.co.uk/news/opinion-former-index/legal-and-constitutional/shadow-minister-cautioned-for-election-tweeting-$21385133.htm Shadow minister cautioned for election tweeting] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027220449/http://www.politics.co.uk/news/opinion-former-index/legal-and-constitutional/shadow-minister-cautioned-for-election-tweeting-$21385133.htm|date=27 October 2010}}, politics.co.uk] In September 2011, McCarthy was made Shadow Foreign Office Minister with a responsibility for East Asia, South Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and human rights.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kerrymccarthymp.org/about.aspx|title=About Kerry McCarthy|last=Ltd|first=Hudson Berkley Reinhart|website=www.kerrymccarthymp.org|access-date=2 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826052000/http://www.kerrymccarthymp.org/about.aspx|archive-date=26 August 2016|url-status=live}}

On World Vegan Day in November 2011, McCarthy became the first MP to set out in Parliament the case for becoming vegan.Kerry McCarthy {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111115005948/http://www.epolitix.com/latestnews/article-detail/newsarticle/mp-leads-debate-on-world-vegan-day/ MP leads debate on World Vegan Day]}}, ePolitix.com, 1 November 2011.

• Also see Kerry McCarthy MP [http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=9214 video] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510021344/http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=9214 |date=10 May 2012 }} (starts at 22:27) and [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm111101/debtext/111101-0004.htm#1111025000002 full transcript] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901202753/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm111101/debtext/111101-0004.htm#1111025000002 |date=1 September 2017 }} (columns 895–904), World Vegan Day, Adjournment Debate, House of Commons, 10.27 pm – 10.56 pm, 1 November 2011. She is also believed to be the first MP to deliver a speech in Parliament with the aid of an iPad.{{cite news|date=29 March 2011|title=MP reads speech from iPad in Commons first|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/uk-politics-video/8413351/MP-reads-speech-from-iPad-in-Commons-first.html|url-status=dead|access-date=31 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223151301/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/uk-politics-video/8413351/MP-reads-speech-from-iPad-in-Commons-first.html|archive-date=23 December 2011}}

After being re-elected with an increased majority in the 2015 General Election, McCarthy nominated Andy Burnham in that year's Labour leadership campaign.{{cite news|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/06/who-nominated-who-2015-labour-leadership-election|title=Who nominated who for the 2015 Labour leadership election?|work=New Statesman|date=15 June 2015|access-date=21 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628072303/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/06/who-nominated-who-2015-labour-leadership-election|archive-date=28 June 2018|url-status=live}} She was appointed by Jeremy Corbyn as Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in September 2015. She argued in a Spring 2015 interview with Viva!life, a magazine for vegans, that meat should be treated like tobacco, with "public campaigns to stop people eating it".{{cite news|last=Wardle|first=Tony|url=http://www.viva.org.uk/Kerry-McCarthy-vivalife-interview|title=The Honourable Member|work=Viva!life|issue=58|date=Spring 2015|access-date=21 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216141944/http://www.viva.org.uk/Kerry-McCarthy-vivalife-interview|archive-date=16 February 2017|url-status=live}} Tim Bonner of the Countryside Alliance said her opinions "are completely out of step with the vast majority of people".{{cite news|last=Wilkinson|first=Michael|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/agriculture/food/11887317/Treat-meat-eaters-like-smokers-warns-Jeremy-Corbyns-new-vegan-farming-minister-Kerry-McCarthy.html|title=Treat meat eaters like smokers, warns Jeremy Corbyn's new vegan farming minister Kerry McCarthy|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 September 2015|access-date=21 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922181100/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/agriculture/food/11887317/Treat-meat-eaters-like-smokers-warns-Jeremy-Corbyns-new-vegan-farming-minister-Kerry-McCarthy.html|archive-date=22 September 2016|url-status=live}} "The world is not going to turn vegan because I am in post", McCarthy said on BBC Radio 4's Farming Today shortly after her appointment. "I have my own personal views on what I choose to eat, but I accept that we have a livestock industry in this country. What I want is for the industry to have the best welfare standards possible, to be sustainable as well as economically viable."

File:Kerry McCarthy, 2016 Labour Party Conference.jpg

On 26 June 2016, McCarthy was among dozens of shadow ministers who resigned from Corbyn's team.{{cite news|last1=Syal|first1=Rajeev|last2=Perraudin|first2=Frances|last3=Slawson|first3=Nicola|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/26/labour-shadow-cabinet-resignations-jeremy-corbyn-who-has-gone|title=Shadow cabinet resignations: who has gone and who is staying|work=The Guardian|date=27 June 2016|access-date=14 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722213447/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/26/labour-shadow-cabinet-resignations-jeremy-corbyn-who-has-gone|archive-date=22 July 2016|url-status=live}} She argued that "a new leader is needed to take on the challenges ahead".{{Cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/west/update/2016-06-26/i-believe-that-a-new-leader-is-needed-kerry-mccarthys-resignation-letter-in-full/|title='I believe that a new leader is needed': Kerry McCarthy's resignation letter in full|publisher=ITV News|date=26 June 2016|access-date=1 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711035043/http://www.itv.com/news/west/update/2016-06-26/i-believe-that-a-new-leader-is-needed-kerry-mccarthys-resignation-letter-in-full/|archive-date=11 July 2016|url-status=live}} According to McCarthy, in an article for The Huffington Post: "When the leader's office did venture into Defra territory, they didn't talk to the shadow team".{{cite news|last=McCarthy|first=Kerry|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/kerry-mccarthy/defra-badger-cull-pmqs_b_11705704.html|title=On 'Betrayal' and Badgers|work=The Huffington Post|date=31 August 2016|access-date=1 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902041542/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/kerry-mccarthy/defra-badger-cull-pmqs_b_11705704.html|archive-date=2 September 2016|url-status=live}} McCarthy did not believe Corbyn was the right Labour leader or a potential prime minister.{{cite news|last=Stewart|first=Heather|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/sep/21/kerry-mccarthy-im-angry-some-people-dont-care-about-being-in-power-bristol-labour-corbyn|title=Kerry McCarthy: I'm angry some people don't care about winning|work=The Guardian|date=21 September 2016|access-date=21 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921093534/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/sep/21/kerry-mccarthy-im-angry-some-people-dont-care-about-being-in-power-bristol-labour-corbyn|archive-date=21 September 2016|url-status=live}} She supported Owen Smith in the 2016 Labour leadership election.{{cite news |url=https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/owen-smiths-battlebus-arrives-in-bristol/ |title=Owen Smith's battlebus arrives in Bristol |newspaper=Bristol 24/7 |date=30 August 2016 |access-date=6 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407053953/https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/owen-smiths-battlebus-arrives-in-bristol/ |archive-date=7 April 2017 |url-status=live }}

In November 2017, McCarthy raised a complaint of inappropriate behaviour against Kelvin Hopkins, Labour MP for Luton North,{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/nov/10/labour-mp-accuses-kelvin-hopkins-of-inappropriate-behaviour|title=Labour MP accuses Kelvin Hopkins of inappropriate behaviour|date=10 November 2017|access-date=10 January 2021|work=The Guardian|first=Heather|last=Stewart|author-link=Heather Stewart}} which remained unresolved at the time Hopkins stepped down as an MP before the 2019 General Election.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/04/keir-starmer-proposes-overhaul-of-labour-party-machinery|title=Keir Starmer proposes overhaul of Labour party machinery|website=TheGuardian.com|date=4 February 2020}}

McCarthy nominated Keir Starmer in the 2020 Labour leadership election, and was appointed Shadow Green Transport Minister following his election in April 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-labour-members-torn-between-3818338|title = Bristol torn between Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey|date = 7 February 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Shadow ministers appointed as Starmer completes frontbench|date=9 April 2020 |url=https://labourlist.org/2020/04/shadow-ministers-appointed-as-starmer-completes-frontbench/}} She stepped down from the front bench owing to 'personal reasons' in Autumn 2021.{{Cite web|title=New Year Message & 2021 Review|url=https://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=7e296150caf287a53ef3f87cb&id=14550eea28|access-date=2022-02-06|website=us16.campaign-archive.com}}

On 29 June 2022 McCarthy returned to the Labour frontbench as Shadow Minister for Climate Change following the resignation of Olivia Blake.{{cite tweet|user=KerryMP|last=McCarthy|first=Kerry|number=1542095067493572608|title=This "progress" report from @theCCCuk shows just how little progress had been made. I'm pleased to have been asked to join @Ed_Miliband's team as Shadow Climate Change Minister, to work on Labour's plans and hold the Government to account. We need to act faster, and go further.|date=29 June 2022|access-date=18 July 2022}}

The New Statesman included McCarthy as one of the Labour MPs who best understand climate and nature policy, as identified by the UK's leading green groups and think tanks.{{Cite web |last=Bourke |first=India |date=19 July 2023 |title=Who in Labour gets climate and nature? |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/sustainability/energy/2023/07/who-labour-climate-nature |access-date=9 June 2025 |website=New Statesman |language=en-UK}}

In May 2024, McCarthy introduced a ten minute rule bill requiring the Government to identify and support children with a parent in prison.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/stop-children-from-suffering-when-their-parents-go-to-jail/|title=Stop children from suffering when their parents go to jail|website=The Spectator|date=22 May 2024}}

In May 2009, McCarthy repaid £402 for a second bed claimed in expenses for her one bedroom flat. She stated the claim had been made in error.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6350646.ece|location=London|work=The Times|first1=Steven|last1=Swinford|first2=Georgia|last2=Warren|title=Duck island MP says his birds never liked it|date=24 May 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-MP-claimed-second-bed-bedroom-flat/article-1014679-detail/article.html|title=MP expenses Keri McCarthy £402 on second bed|work=This is Bristol|date=22 May 2009|author=Kerry McCarthy|access-date=15 January 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091231022300/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-MP-claimed-second-bed-bedroom-flat/article-1014679-detail/article.html|archive-date=31 December 2009|df=dmy-all}}

In October 2010, McCarthy admitted a charge of electoral fraud, accepting a police caution for revealing on Twitter the number of postal votes cast per party in her constituency at the 2010 election, and apologised for this action.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-11621053|work=BBC News|title=Bristol Labour MP cautioned for electoral fraud|date=25 October 2010|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130153144/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-11621053|archive-date=30 November 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/8086073/Labour-MP-cautioned-over-Twitter-election-gaffe.html|location=London|work=The Daily Telegraph|title=Labour MP cautioned over Twitter election gaffe|date=26 October 2010|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110222859/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/8086073/Labour-MP-cautioned-over-Twitter-election-gaffe.html|archive-date=10 November 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/apr/29/labour-candidate-apologises-twitter-vote|title=Police investigate Labour candidate's Twitter postal vote gaffe|work=The Guardian|date=29 April 2010|access-date=14 October 2010|location=London|first=David|last=Batty|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002202920/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/apr/29/labour-candidate-apologises-twitter-vote|archive-date=2 October 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/england/8652724.stm|title=Police probe Twitter votes gaffe by Bristol candidate|work=BBC News|date=29 April 2010|access-date=14 October 2010}}

In May 2012, McCarthy branded a fellow train passenger a "lager drinking oaf" and suggested he should "have been killed before he could breed" in comments made to her followers on Twitter. According to McCarthy, he was playing loud techno music on the train and wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with an obscene phrase about his sex life.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18204464|title=MP's 'flippant' Twitter outburst at train passenger|work=BBC News|date=25 May 2012|access-date=11 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201172010/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18204464|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}

McCarthy is a vegan, and has given talks on the subject. She was a presenter at the Vegan Society's 2005 annual awards.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2005/10/27/vegan_feature.shtml|title=Made in Bristol – Vegan vote for Bristol firms|work=BBC News|date=28 October 2005|access-date=4 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629102853/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2005/10/27/vegan_feature.shtml|archive-date=29 June 2011|url-status=live}} She divides her time between Bristol and London, and is a part-owner of a house in Luton.[https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/kerry_mccarthy/bristol_east Profile: Kerry McCarthy MP, Bristol East] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723162629/http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/kerry_mccarthy/bristol_east |date=23 July 2013 }}, TheyWorkForYou.com; accessed 26 December 2013

She is a vice-president of the League Against Cruel Sports,{{cite web|url=http://www.league.org.uk/who-we-are/about-the-league/board-of-trustees|title=Board of Trustees|publisher=League Against Cruel Sports|access-date=10 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712095600/http://www.league.org.uk/who-we-are/about-the-league/board-of-trustees|archive-date=12 July 2015|url-status=live}} and an honorary associate of the National Secular Society.{{Cite web|url=https://www.secularism.org.uk/honoraryassociates.html|title=Honorary Associates|website=www.secularism.org.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802160042/https://www.secularism.org.uk/honoraryassociates.html/|archive-date=2 August 2019|url-status=dead}}

McCarthy is a fan of punk and post-punk music. She has written about industrial bands including Cabaret Voltaire and Test Dept for the website Louder Than War.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/01/kerry-mccarthy-punk-labour-mp-david-cameron-phil-collins |title=Kerry McCarthy: 'David Cameron was a Phil Collins obsessive' |last1=Pollock |first1=David |date=1 October 2015 |website=theguardian.com |access-date=1 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001221616/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/01/kerry-mccarthy-punk-labour-mp-david-cameron-phil-collins |archive-date=1 October 2015 |url-status=live }}

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• {{Official website|https://www.kerrymccarthy.org/}}
• [http://kerrymccarthy.wordpress.com/ Kerry McCarthy's blog]
• [https://twitter.com/KerryMP Kerry McCarthy] on Twitter
• {{UK MP links | parliament = kerry-mccarthy/1491 | hansardcurr = 4810 | guardian = 8671/kerry-mccarthy | publicwhip = Kerry_McCarthy | theywork = kerry_mccarthy | record = Kerry-McCarthy/Bristol-East/344 | bbc = 39440.stm | journalisted = }}
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