Kate Green
Encyclopedia
Katherine Anne 'Kate' Green OBE
(born 2 May 1960) is a British
Labour Party
politician
, who has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Stretford and Urmston since 2010.
to Maurice and Jessie Craig Green. She attended Currie High School
then graduated from Edinburgh University with a Bachelor of Laws
degree.
. Green was employed as Director of the National Council for One Parent Families
between 2000 and 2004, then working as Chief Executive of the Child Poverty Action Group
until 2009. Alongside this, Green also served as a member of the London Child Poverty Commission, eventually serving as the commissioner chairing the body. Green also served as a magistrate in the City of London
between 1993 and 2009.
. Failing to be elected in 1997, she then contested the 2000 London Assembly election in the West Central constituency
though again was not elected. In 2009 Green was selected as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Stretford and Urmston through an all-women shortlist following Beverley Hughes
's announcement that she would not be seeking re-election. She was elected as Member of Parliament on 6 May 2010 securing 48.6% of the vote, increasing the majority Beverley Hughes obtained in the 2005 general election.
Since entering Parliament, Green has been elected as a Vice-Chair of the Labour Party's National Policy Forum
and serves as the chairman of the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party
.
Following a reshuffle of Labour's shadow ministerial team in October 2011, Green was promoted to shadow Minister of State for Equalities at the Government Equalities Office
, working alongside Yvette Cooper
.
In November 2011 Green was criticised for failing to declare an interest when tabling an amendment to a bill. Green had neglected to mention her membership of the GMB trade union when attempting to amend the Legal Aid
Bill. In a statement in Parliament she acknowledged she had been advised on the amendments by the union, though noted she had declared her membership in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. She apologised for her actions.
She is a member of the GMB and Unite trade unions, the Fawcett Society, the Fabian Society and CPAG.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 2 May 1960) is a British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Stretford and Urmston since 2010.
Early life
Green was born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
to Maurice and Jessie Craig Green. She attended Currie High School
Currie High School
Currie Community High School is a six year comprehensive school serving the south-west of the City of Edinburgh, Scotland. The school roll currently stands at 982 of whom some 20% attend as a result of parental placing requests. The school's feeder primary schools are Currie Primary School, Nether...
then graduated from Edinburgh University with a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree.
Career
After University Green began a career at Barclays Bank, working for the organisation from 1982 to 1997. From 1997 to 1999 she worked as a Whitehall and Industry Group secondee to the Home OfficeHome Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
. Green was employed as Director of the National Council for One Parent Families
One Parent Families
is a registered charity which provides advice, support and campaigns for single parent families. Following a merger with One Parent Families in 2007 it was briefly known as "One Parent Families|Gingerbread" before relaunching as Gingerbread in January 2009.J. K...
between 2000 and 2004, then working as Chief Executive of the Child Poverty Action Group
Child Poverty Action Group
Child Poverty Action Group is a UK charity that works to alleviate poverty and social exclusion.The stated aims of the CPAG are:CPAG programs include:* Research and publish the latest facts and figures of family and child poverty in the UK...
until 2009. Alongside this, Green also served as a member of the London Child Poverty Commission, eventually serving as the commissioner chairing the body. Green also served as a magistrate in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
between 1993 and 2009.
Politics and Parliament
Green joined the Labour Party in 1990 and was previously the Labour Party candidate in the 1997 General Election for the Greater London constituency of Cities of London and WestminsterCities of London and Westminster (UK Parliament constituency)
Cities of London and Westminster is a borough constituency covering the area comprising the City of London and southern portion of the City of Westminster in Central London...
. Failing to be elected in 1997, she then contested the 2000 London Assembly election in the West Central constituency
West Central (London Assembly constituency)
West Central is a constituency represented on the London Assembly. The seat is currently held by Kit Malthouse, a Conservative from Westminster....
though again was not elected. In 2009 Green was selected as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Stretford and Urmston through an all-women shortlist following Beverley Hughes
Beverley Hughes
Beverley June Hughes, Baroness Hughes of Stretford is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Stretford and Urmston from 1997 to 2010. In 2004, she was appointed to the Privy Council...
's announcement that she would not be seeking re-election. She was elected as Member of Parliament on 6 May 2010 securing 48.6% of the vote, increasing the majority Beverley Hughes obtained in the 2005 general election.
Since entering Parliament, Green has been elected as a Vice-Chair of the Labour Party's National Policy Forum
National Policy Forum
The National Policy Forum of the British Labour Party is part of the policy-making system of the Party, set up by Leader Tony Blair as part of the Partnership in Power process....
and serves as the chairman of the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party
Parliamentary Labour Party
In UK politics, the Parliamentary Labour Party is the parliamentary party of the Labour Party in Parliament: Labour MPs as a collective body....
.
Following a reshuffle of Labour's shadow ministerial team in October 2011, Green was promoted to shadow Minister of State for Equalities at the Government Equalities Office
Government Equalities Office
The Government Equalities Office is a United Kingdom government department. It was created in October 2007 when the Women and Equality Unit, based within the Department for Communities and Local Government was converted into an independent department.It has lead responsibility for gender equality...
, working alongside Yvette Cooper
Yvette Cooper
Yvette Cooper is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford since 2010, having previously been MP for Pontefract and Castleford since 1997. She served in the Cabinet between 2008 and 2010. She is the Shadow Home Secretary...
.
In November 2011 Green was criticised for failing to declare an interest when tabling an amendment to a bill. Green had neglected to mention her membership of the GMB trade union when attempting to amend the Legal Aid
Legal aid
Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people otherwise unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.A number of...
Bill. In a statement in Parliament she acknowledged she had been advised on the amendments by the union, though noted she had declared her membership in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. She apologised for her actions.
Personal life
Green married Richard Duncan Mabb in 1985 and they divorced in 2006. Her recreations include theatre, books, food and swimming.She is a member of the GMB and Unite trade unions, the Fawcett Society, the Fabian Society and CPAG.