Cat was born in Barrow-in-Furness where she attended state schools. She moved to Lancaster as a teenager and graduated from Lancaster University in 2006. She is proud to call the city her home. Before being elected as an MP she worked for a national social work organisation and was a trustee for a local charity supporting victims of domestic violence.

She was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Lancaster and Fleetwood in May 2015, winning the seat from the Conservative Party. Cat was re-elected in the Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency in 2017 and 2019 and after boundary changes in 2024 was re-elected to the constituency she currently represents of Lancaster and Wyre.

In Westminster, she held various front bench roles between 2015 and 2021 including Shadow Secretary for Young People and Democracy, Shadow Deputy Commons Leader, Shadow Transport Minister and Shadow Women and Equalities Minister. She resigned from the Labour front bench during a reshuffle in 2021 to spend more time with her young family and in the constituency.

When her son was in school, she went back to holding roles in Westminster, chairing the Petitions Committee from October 2023 until the last general election, and since 2024 she has Chaired the Procedure Committee in the House of Commons.

As a girl she grew up attending Methodist youth groups and as such has a faith-driven quest for social justice, climate change action and fairness which is reflected in the issues she speaks out on. Cat speaks regularly on climate change issues; she fought against fracking at Preston New Road and the development of the huge gas storage facility at Preesall. Her commitment to youth engagement, democracy, political literacy, and animal welfare issues is often reflected in her campaigns in Lancaster and Wyre.

Cat holds advice surgeries by appointment, and over the recess periods uses her time locally to host “Chats with Cat” which are informal drop-ins for constituents to meet Cat near where you live.

To book an appointment please call 01524 566551.