Political career
In 2017 Fookes contested the Wyesham ward on Monmouthshire County Council. She came second,by 24 votes,to the Welsh Conservatives' Laura Anne Jones. [5] [6] In 2022 she was successfully elected to the Council,representing the Town ward in Monmouth. [7]
While on the council she job-shared the equalities and engagement portfolio on the council. She quit her portfolio and job for Women's Equality Network Wales in 2023,after being selected as Labour parliamentary candidate for the 2024 UK general election and to work on the campaign full-time. [8] [9]
In the 2024 United Kingdom general election,Fookes raised more than £20,000 from trade unions to fight her campaign. [10]
In the 2024 general election,Fookes was elected as MP for Monmouthshire with a majority of 3,338 (6.5%),defeating former Secretary of State for Wales David TC Davies. [4] On 17 July,Fookes announced her intention to resign her role as a councillor with a statement on social media,saying she would stand down "after the summer," saying she wished to avoid a by-election for her constituents in the summer holidays. [11] Fookes resigned her seat in September 2024, [12] with the following by-election won by Martin Newell,the Conservative candidate. [13]
In October 2024,Fookes was elected to the Women and Equalities Select Committee [14]
In her South Wales Argus column,she vowed to end river pollution by 2029,naming it her "top priority". [15] [16]
In January 2025,Fookes was elected as a Co-Chair for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Western Gateway - a body aimed at boosting economic development in Wales - but the group was forced to close in April 2025,after the UK and Welsh Governments cancelled its funding. [17] [18]
Views and voting record
In January 2024,Fookes came out in favour of more devolution for the Welsh Parliament,including criminal justice. [19]
In July 2024,Fookes came out and defended embattled First Minister Vaughan Gething,stating:"He has my full support". Gething ended up resigning the following month. [20] [21]
In January 2025,Fookes voted against holding a national inquiry into grooming gangs. [22]
In November 2024,Fookes voted in favour of removing winter fuel allowance to pensioners. [23] [24]
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