23 Facts About Carolyn Harris

Carolyn Harris has been Member of Parliament for Neath and Swansea East, previously Swansea East since 2015.

Carolyn Harris was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, Keir Starmer, from 2020 to 2021.

Carolyn Harris was born on 18 September 1960 in Swansea, Wales.

Carolyn Harris attended Swansea University from 1994 to 1998, where she studied a joint degree in Social History and Social Policy.

Carolyn Harris has previously worked as a barmaid and a dinner lady.

Carolyn Harris was elected to Parliament at the 2015 general election.

Carolyn Harris gave her maiden speech on 8 June 2015, in which she argued that Dylan Thomas was wrong about his description of Swansea as "this ugly, lovely town".

Carolyn Harris served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the shadow Home Affairs team from September 2015 to October 2016.

Carolyn Harris was promoted within the team as Shadow Minister for Safeguarding and Vulnerability in September 2016, and became a junior Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities in July 2017.

Carolyn Harris is a friend and ally of Keir Starmer, encouraging him to stand in the 2020 Labour leadership election and co-chairing his campaign.

Carolyn Harris was appointed PPS to Starmer when he became Leader of the Opposition in April 2020, serving until her resignation in May 2021.

On 24 January 2018, Carolyn Harris was confirmed as one of three candidates, alongside Newport City Council leader Debbie Wilcox and Assembly Member and former MP Julie Morgan.

Carolyn Harris won the majority of votes from affiliated groups, AMs and MPs, but lost the membership by a margin of 2 to 1.

Carolyn Harris has led many successful campaigns during her time in Parliament, on issues including children's funerals, fixed-odds-betting terminals and electricity fires in homes.

Not wanting other parents to suffer the same hardship, Carolyn Harris spoke about her grief in an adjournment debate on 28 November 2016.

Carolyn Harris went on to work with the Fair Funerals Campaign to press the Government to create a Children's Funeral Fund.

Carolyn Harris started a campaign on fires caused by electrical products in people's homes as a result of a death of a constituent, Linda Merron in Penlan, Swansea.

Carolyn Harris's campaign is to raise awareness of cheap electrical goods being sold online and the potential impact of unsafe goods and she has had several debates in the House of Commons on the issue.

Carolyn Harris faced allegations of making homophobic remarks by a former colleague in July 2018, as well as an alleged assault.

Carolyn Harris apologised for her conduct, which occurred before Harris was an MP, but added that her remarks would have been "office banter".

Carolyn Harris was criticised for inviting Nicole Elkabbas, a convicted criminal, to speak at a parliamentary event on anti-gambling in February 2021.

Carolyn Harris resigned as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Starmer on 11 May 2021, accused of inflaming party tensions following the 2021 local elections and subsequent shadow cabinet reshuffle.

Carolyn Harris denied being forced to step down, attributing her decision to personal issues and a high workload.