Kate Dearden | |
---|---|
![]() Official portrait, 2024 | |
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets | |
Assumed office 7 September 2025 | |
Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
Preceded by | Justin Madders |
Assistant Government Whip | |
In office 18 July 2024 –7 September 2025 | |
Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
Member of Parliament for Halifax | |
Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
Preceded by | Holly Lynch |
Majority | 6,269 (15.5%) |
Personal details | |
Born | April 1994 31) Bingley,West Yorkshire,England | (age
Political party | Labour and Co-operative |
Education | St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College |
Alma mater | University of Edinburgh [1] |
Kate Alexandra Dearden (born April 1994) is an English Labour and Co-operative politician who has served as Member of Parliament for Halifax since 2024,and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Business and Trade since September 2025. She previously worked for the Community Trade Union.
Dearden was born and raised in Bingley,West Yorkshire,and attended St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic College in Bradford. [2] She studied for MA (Hons) International Relations at the University of Edinburgh, [3] where she was Chair of Edinburgh Labour Students and campaigned for equal marriage in Scotland. [2]
During her third year at university,Dearden worked as a Campaign Organiser for Ian Murray MP,before working for Kezia Dugdale MSP (then Leader of the Opposition in the Scottish Parliament and Member of Scottish Parliament for Lothian) in her fourth year. [4]
After graduating,Dearden served as Chair of the National Labour Students Committee until June 2017, [5] having begun working as a Campaigns Officer for the Labour Party in April. [4] Whilst Chair of the Labour Students,Dearden launched training against antisemitism at the Oxford University Labour Club. [6] [7]
Dearden worked for Community Union from 2017 - 2024. [8] Beginning as a Research and Campaigns Officer in October 2017,Dearden was then promoted to be Head of Research,Policy &External Relations in January 2020. [4]
Dearden attempted to stand as a candidate in the 2022 Wakefield by-election, [8] [9] but was not selected. [10]
Dearden was elected as Member of Parliament for Halifax in the 2024 United Kingdom general election,succeeding the former Labour MP for Halifax,Holly Lynch,who stood down. [2] [11] [12] Dearden was appointed Assistant Whip,House of Commons on 18 July 2024. [13]
From 2025,she has offered cost of living advice surgeries to her constituents. [14] [15]