Kate Helen Osborne is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Jarrow since 2019.[1][2]
Kate Osborne | |
---|---|
Member of Parliament for Jarrow | |
Assumed office 12 December 2019 | |
Preceded by | Stephen Hepburn |
Majority | 7,120 (17.5%) |
Personal details | |
Nationality | British |
Political party | Labour |
Other political affiliations | Socialist Campaign Group (2019–present) |
Children | 2 |
Residence | South Tyneside |
Occupation | Politician |
Website | Official website |
Osborne worked for Royal Mail for 25 years. Her first foray into politics came in 2009, when she contested a by-election for Preston ward on North Tyneside Council, losing to Conservative David Sarin.[3] The following year, Osborne was elected to represent the ward at the 2010 local elections, gaining the seat from the Conservative incumbent. She was re-elected to represent Preston in 2014, and again in 2018.[4][5][6] Osborne did not stand at the 2022 North Tyneside elections.[7]
She was elected to the House of Commons at the 2019 United Kingdom general election, representing Jarrow, a safe seat for Labour. She succeeded the party's former MP Stephen Hepburn, who had been prevented from standing again over allegations of misconduct.[8] Osborne is a member of Labour's left-wing Socialist Campaign Group.[9]
Osborne was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Shadow Home Affairs team, led by Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott, in January 2020.[10] She served until the front bench reshuffle following Keir Stamer's election as Labour Leader in April 2020. Osborne returned as a PPS in December 2021, this time to the Shadow Northern Ireland team led by Shadow Secretary of State Peter Kyle.[11]
In 2021, she was selected for the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, assigned to the Royal Air Force.[12]
During the June 2022 rail strikes, Osborne joined a picket line with railway workers, reportedly going against orders from her party not to do so. Commenting, she said, "Solidarity to workers on strike today, they have my full support."[13]
Osborne is an activist and campaigner in the trade union and LGBT+ movements.[14]
She was[citation needed] married to Pamela Brooks,[15] a former North Tyneside councillor.[4][16] The couple served on the council at the same time, including four years in which they both represented Preston ward.[17] Brooks gained Preston from the Conservative candidate who had defeated her partner in 2009. Osborne has two sons and lives in her Jarrow constituency.[18]
On 16 March 2020, Osborne became the second British Member of Parliament to test positive for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), after Conservative Nadine Dorries.[19] She was in self-isolation in her London flat for three weeks.[20][21]