Elected in 1997 I am the first female MP and first Labour MP for the City of Chester.

I was born on 25th March in Holbeach Lincolnshire and grew up on a farm. Moving to London to train as a librarian in the 1960s I went on to work for the London Borough of Camden, the University of Glasgow, and Dunbartonshire County Council.

Over 25 years ago I moved to Chester with my husband where I raised my two children and was a long standing member of Chester City Council.

In Parliament I have served on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Select Committee (Department of Communities & Local Government), am an Executive Member of several All Party Parliamentary Groups, and currently serve as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Rt Hon Beverley Hughes MP, Minister for Children & Young People in the Department for Education & Skills.

Working hard for the City of Chester in an historic third term Labour Government I urge you to get in touch with me to discuss any problems or concerns you may have. I hold regular advice surgeries across the constituency. Over the years I have aided in helping thousands of people sort out housing problems and benefit concerns, and strive to represent the views of my constituents to influence Government policy.