27 Facts About Julie Elliott

Julie Elliott was a member of the European Scrutiny; Business, Innovation and Skills; Digital, Culture, Media and Sport; and Regulatory Reform Committees.

Julie Elliott stood down as an MP at the 2024 general election and was appointed to the House of Lords in 2025.

Julie Elliott was born in Whitburn, Sunderland, on 29 July 1963.

Julie Elliott was educated at Seaham Northlea Comprehensive School, and later gained a Bachelor of Arts degree in government and public policy at Newcastle Polytechnic.

Julie Elliott served as a school governor for Whitburn Comprehensive from 1991 to 2004, including a stint as chair.

Julie Elliott served as a governor at primary schools across Sunderland and South Tyneside.

Julie Elliott worked for the National Asthma Campaign in 1998 and 1999 as a regional organiser.

From 1999 to 2010, Julie Elliott became a regional organizer for the trade union GMB, responsible for political matters, representing members in employment tribunals and regional pay negotiations.

Julie Elliott became a member of the Labour Party in 1984 and worked as a regional organizer from 1993 to 1998.

Julie Elliott served as an election agent for Tynemouth at the 1997 general election.

In October 2013, Julie Elliott became a shadow minister for the Department for Energy and Climate Change, with specific responsibility for renewable energy.

Julie Elliott served as the parliamentary private secretary to Caroline Flint.

Julie Elliott was re-elected as MP for Sunderland Central at the 2015 general election with an increased majority of 11,179 votes.

Julie Elliott nominated Liz Kendall in the 2015 Labour Party leadership election and Caroline Flint in the deputy leadership election.

Julie Elliott was elected as chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party's Backbench Housing and Planning Committee in November 2015, and served as a member of the National Policy Forum.

Julie Elliott endorsed Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 Labour Party leadership election.

Julie Elliott was re-elected as MP for Sunderland Central at the 2017 general election with a slightly reduced majority of 9,997 votes, and again at the 2019 general election with a smaller majority of 2,964 votes.

Julie Elliott nominated Jess Phillips in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election and Ian Murray in the deputy leadership election.

Julie Elliott voted against university tuition fees, proposed reductions in spending on welfare benefits and culling badgers to tackle bovine tuberculosis.

Julie Elliott campaigned to remain in the European Union and consistently voted against withdrawal agreements put forward to Parliament despite her constituents voting to leave.

On 28 May 2024, Julie Elliott announced that she would stand down at the 2024 general election.

In late 2024, Julie Elliott was nominated for a life peerage by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Julie Elliott was created Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay, of Whitburn Bay in the City of Sunderland, on 27 January 2025, and was introduced to the House of Lords on 10 February.

Julie Elliott took on roles in several campaigns over the decades, both before and after becoming an MP.

Julie Elliott later worked with the GMB to change the law around compensation paid to victims of asbestos-related diseases, led a campaign against the use of zero-hour contracts in 2013.

Julie Elliott campaigned for a transformation of Sunderland's "rundown railway station" and for a new court complex for the city.

Julie Elliott was scheduled to assume the role in July 2025.