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{{Short description|Welsh politician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox MP
|name = Carolyn Harris
{{For|other people named Carolyn Harris|Carolyn Harris (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}{{Use British English|date=September 2019}}
|honorific-suffix = [[Member of Parliament|MP]]
{{Infobox officeholder
|office = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br>for [[Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency)|Swansea East]]
|term_start = 8 May 2015
| name = Carolyn Harris
| honorific-suffix = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]]
|term_end =
| image = Official portrait of Carolyn Harris MP crop 2, 2024.jpg
|predecessor = [[Siân James (politician)|Siân James]]
| office = [[Welsh Labour#Elected deputy leaders|Deputy Leader of Welsh Labour]]
|successor =
| term_start = 21 April 2018
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|9|18|df=y}}
| leader = [[Carwyn Jones]]<br />[[Mark Drakeford]] <br />[[Vaughan Gething]] <BR />[[Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely|Eluned Morgan]]
|birth_place =
|death_date =
| predecessor = ''Office established''
|death_place =
| successor =
| office1 = [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to the [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Leader of the Opposition]]
|party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
|alma_mater = [[Swansea University]]
| term_start1 = 6 April 2020
| term_end1 = 11 May 2021
| leader1 = [[Keir Starmer]]
| predecessor1 = [[Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi]]
| successor1 = [[Sharon Hodgson]]
| office2 = [[Government Equalities Office|Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities]]
| leader2 = [[Jeremy Corbyn]]
| term_start2 = 3 July 2017
| term_end2 = 10 April 2020
| predecessor2 = [[Kate Osamor]]
| successor2 = [[Gill Furniss]]
| office3 = [[Home Office|Shadow Minister for Safeguarding and Vulnerability]]
| leader3 = Jeremy Corbyn
| term_start3 = 24 September 2016
| term_end3 = 3 July 2017
| predecessor3 = [[Sarah Champion]]
| successor3 = [[Jess Phillips|Jess Philips]]
| office4 = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Neath and Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency)|Neath and Swansea East]] <br/> [[Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency)|Swansea East]] (2015—2024)
| term_start4 = 7 May 2015
| term_end4 =
| predecessor4 = [[Siân James (politician)|Siân James]]
| successor4 =
| majority4 = 6,627 (16.5%)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1960|09|18}}
| birth_place = [[Swansea]], Wales
| party = [[Welsh Labour Party|Labour]]
| alma_mater = [[Swansea University]]
| caption = Official portrait, 2024
| website = {{Official website|https://www.carolynharris.org.uk/}}
}}
}}

'''Carolyn Harris''' is a British politician, the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] MP for [[Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency)|Swansea East]] since May 2015.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/W07000048</ref>
'''Carolyn Harris''' (born 18 September 1960) is a [[Welsh people|Welsh]] politician serving as [[Welsh Labour#Elected deputy leaders|Deputy Leader of Welsh Labour]] since 2018. She has been [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency)|Swansea East]] since 2015.

Harris served as Shadow Minister for Safeguarding and Vulnerability from 2016 to 2017, and a junior Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities from 2017 to 2020. She was [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to the [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Leader of the Opposition]], [[Keir Starmer]], from 2020 to 2021.

== Early life and career ==
Harris was born on 18 September 1960 in [[Swansea, Wales]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Carolyn Harris MP |url=http://myparliament.info/Member/4480 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811145701/http://myparliament.info/Member/4480 |archive-date=11 August 2017 |access-date=11 August 2017 |website=myparliament.info |publisher=MyParliament}}</ref> She attended [[Swansea University]] from 1994 to 1998, where she studied a joint degree in [[Social History]] and [[Social Policy]].

Following university, Harris worked for Swansea-based community projects such as the Guiding Hand Association and the Joshua Foundation. She has previously worked as a barmaid and a dinner lady.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Nigel |date=29 October 2016 |title=MP was forced to borrow money and take out loan just so she could afford to bury tragic son |work=[[Daily Mirror]] |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mp-forced-borrow-money-take-9155808 |access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref> Before her election to the Commons, she was a Parliamentary assistant to her predecessor, [[Siân James (politician)|Siân James]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

== Parliamentary career ==
Harris was elected to Parliament at the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]].<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |title=Election 2015: Swansea East parliamentary constituency |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/W07000048 |accessdate=10 September 2016}}</ref> She gave her maiden speech on 8 June 2015, in which she argued that [[Dylan Thomas]] was wrong about his description of Swansea as "this ugly, lovely town".<ref>{{cite news | last = Cornock | first = David | title = MP: Dylan Thomas wrong about his 'ugly, lovely town' |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-33071932 | work = [[BBC News]] | date = 9 June 2015 | access-date = 20 November 2016}}</ref>

Harris served as [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] (PPS) to the shadow [[Home Office|Home Affairs]] team from September 2015 to October 2016. She was promoted within the team as Shadow Minister for Safeguarding and Vulnerability in September 2016,<ref>{{cite news |date=9 October 2016 |title=Jeremy Corbyn welcomes 10 returning MPs to shadow team |work=[[ITV News]] |url=http://www.itv.com/news/2016-10-09/jeremy-corbyn-welcomes-10-returning-mps-to-shadow-team/ |access-date=20 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Second reading: correspondence from the Minister for Safeguarding and Vulnerability to Carolyn Harris MP (accessible version) |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-abuse-bill-2019-letter-from-minister-to-carolyn-harris-mp/second-reading-correspondence-from-the-minister-for-safeguarding-and-vulnerability-to-carolyn-harris-mp |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> and became a junior Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities in July 2017.

Harris is a friend and ally of Keir Starmer,<ref>{{cite news |date=23 December 2021 |title=Labour Insiders Say Prioritising Talent Over Loyalty On His Front Bench Could Be Keir Starmer's Undoing |last1=Proctor |first1=Kate |last2=Hoffman |first2=Noa |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/labour-insiders-say-prioritising-talent-over-loyalty-on-his-front-bench-could-be-keir-starmers-undoing |access-date=5 April 2022 |website=Politics Home |language=en}}</ref> encouraging him to stand in the [[2020 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2020 Labour leadership election]] and co-chairing his campaign.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Masters |first=Adrian |date=2021-07-29 |title=Welsh MP 'still friends with Starmer' after quitting as aide to Labour leader |url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2021-07-29/still-friends-with-starmer-says-welsh-mp-who-quit-as-aide-to-labour-leader |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=ITV News |language=en}}</ref> She was appointed PPS to Starmer when he became [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Leader of the Opposition]] in April 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodgers |first=Sienna |title=Shadow ministers appointed as Starmer completes frontbench |url=https://labourlist.org/2020/04/shadow-ministers-appointed-as-starmer-completes-frontbench/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=LabourList |date=9 April 2020 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris MP |first=Carolyn |date=6 April 2020 |title=Over the moon to be appointed as @Keir_Starmer's Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) at such a crucial time for our country. Looking forward to working with him and his fantastic new Shadow Cabinet as we address the pressing challenges ahead. |url=https://twitter.com/carolynharris24/status/1247228227397005312 |access-date=6 April 2020 |website=@carolynharris24 |language=en}}</ref> serving until her resignation in May 2021.

Harris is a member of [[Labour Friends of Israel]].<ref>{{cite web |title=LFI Parliamentary Supporters |url=https://www.lfi.org.uk/lfi-parliamentary-supporters/ |website=Labour Friends of Israel |date=6 July 2017 |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>

===Deputy leadership of Welsh Labour===

The Labour Party announced in September 2017 that it would create the position of [[Welsh Labour#Elected deputy leaders|Deputy Leader of Welsh Labour]], and that the post would be held by a woman.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-09-03 |title=Welsh Labour to appoint woman as deputy leader in 2018 |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-41140530 |access-date=2023-02-25}}</ref> On 24 January 2018, Harris was confirmed as one of three candidates, alongside [[Newport City Council]] leader [[Debbie Wilcox]] and [[Member of the Senedd|Assembly Member]] (AM) and former MP [[Julie Morgan]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-01-24 |last=Davies |first=Daniel |title=Morgan, Wilcox and Harris in running for Welsh Labour deputy |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-42811456 |access-date=2023-02-25}}</ref>

Harris was elected on 21 April 2018<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 April 2018 |title=Harris elected Welsh Labour deputy leader |journal=BBC News |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-43838107}}</ref> after securing 51.5% of the electoral college vote, narrowly defeating Morgan.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://labourlist.org/2018/04/carolyn-harris-elected-welsh-labour-deputy-leader/ |title= Carolyn Harris elected Welsh Labour deputy leader |date=2 April 2018|work= LabourList |access-date= 5 June 2018 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Harris won the majority of votes from affiliated groups, AMs and MPs, but lost the membership by a margin of 2 to 1.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/julie-morgan-says-welsh-labour-14558925|title=Julie Morgan demands change after losing with the most votes|first=Ruth|last=Mosalski|date=21 April 2018|website=WalesOnline|accessdate=24 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://socialistworker.co.uk/news/welsh-labour-election-sees-right-defy-members/|title=Welsh Labour election sees right defy members|date=24 April 2018|website=Socialist Worker|accessdate=24 February 2023}}</ref> The electoral college system was abolished in favour of [[one member, one vote]] in September 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-09-14 |title=Welsh Labour leader election to use one-member-one-vote |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-45512635 |access-date=2023-02-25}}</ref>

=== Campaigns ===
Harris has led many successful campaigns during her time in Parliament, on issues including children's funerals, fixed-odds-betting terminals and electricity fires in homes. During her first year in Parliament, she raised issues such as the [[Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay|Swansea Bay tidal lagoon]], [[21st-century modernisation of the Great Western main line|electrification of the South Wales mainline]] to Swansea, and various consumer issues such as [[fixed odds betting terminal]]s and faulty electrical goods.

After losing her son Martin in 1989, Harris was forced to take out a loan and rely on donations from the community to cover the funeral costs. Not wanting other parents to suffer the same hardship, Harris spoke about her grief in an adjournment debate on 28 November 2016. She went on to work with the Fair Funerals Campaign to press the Government to create a Children's Funeral Fund.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fair Funerals |url=http://www.fairfuneralscampaign.org.uk |access-date=5 June 2018 |website=fairfuneralscampaign.org.uk |language=EN}}</ref> The fund was announced for Wales in March 2017,<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://gov.wales/newsroom/firstminister/2017/171123-child-burial-fees-will-no-longer-apply-in-wales/?lang=en |title= Welsh Government {{!}} Child burial fees will no longer apply in Wales |website= gov.wales |language= EN |access-date= 5 June 2018}}</ref> by PM Theresa May for England in March 2018, and Scotland in May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://news.gov.scot/news/child-burial-and-cremation-fees-to-end |title=Child burial and cremation fees to end |website= Scottish Government News |language=en |access-date= 5 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Children's Funeral Fund for England |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/childrens-funeral-fund-for-england |access-date=5 June 2018}}</ref>

Following a two-year campaign to reduce the maximum stake on fixed-odds-betting terminals from £100 per spin to £2, on 17 May 2018 the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport announced that they would be reducing the stake in line with Harris's suggestion of £2 a spin.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-cut-fixed-odds-betting-terminals-maximum-stake-from-100-to-2 |title= Government to cut Fixed Odds Betting Terminals maximum stake from £100 to £2 |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |access-date= 5 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

Harris started a campaign on fires caused by electrical products in people's homes as a result of a death of a constituent, Linda Merron in Penlan, Swansea.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-35870861|title=Air purifier caused fatal fire, MP warns |work=BBC News |date=22 March 2016 |language= EN |access-date= 4 March 2019}}</ref> Her campaign is to raise awareness of cheap electrical goods being sold online and the potential impact of unsafe goods and she has had several debates in the [[House of Commons]] on the issue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2016-03-22a.487.0|title=Faulty Electrical Imports |website= theyworkforyou.com|language= EN |access-date= 4 March 2019}}</ref>

===Controversies===

Harris faced allegations of making homophobic remarks by a former colleague in July 2018, as well as an alleged assault. She apologised for her conduct, which occurred before Harris was an MP, but added that her remarks would have been "office banter".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/carolyn-harris-mp-under-pressure-14985274|title=Carolyn Harris under pressure to quit over homophobic allegation|first=David|last=Williamson|date=3 August 2018|publisher=Wales Online}}</ref> Due to the equivocal nature of the apology, some party colleagues called for her to step down as a Shadow Equalities Minister.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2018-08-03/labour-mp-apologises-for-dismissing-alleged-homophobic-comments-as-banter/|title= Labour MP facing calls to stand down over her handling of alleged homophobic comments |website= ITV News|language= EN |access-date= 4 March 2019}}</ref> However, party leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]], [[First Minister of Wales|First Minister]] [[Carwyn Jones]], and other LGBT colleagues supported Harris.<ref name=bbc-20180803>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-45055491 |title=Carolyn Harris: Corbyn backs under fire MP in gay slur row |work=BBC News |date=3 August 2018 |access-date=13 May 2021}}</ref>

Harris was criticised for inviting Nicole Elkabbas, a convicted criminal, to speak at a parliamentary event on anti-gambling in February 2021. Two months earlier, Elkabbas was found guilty of eliciting tens of thousands in donations by faking a cancer diagnosis.<ref name=times-20210213>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/starmer-aide-invited-swindler-to-address-mps-8k997jw62 |title=Starmer aide invited swindler to address MPs |last=Dathan |first=Matt |newspaper=The Times |location=London |url-access=subscription |date=13 February 2021 |access-date=17 July 2021}}</ref><ref name=bbc-20201120>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-55021836 |title=Woman guilty of fake cancer GoFundMe fundraising fraud |work=BBC News |date=20 November 2020 |access-date=17 July 2021}}</ref> Harris gave Elkabbas a character reference at her sentencing, which she defended as being "in connection with her addiction leading her to crime."<ref name=times-20210213/><ref name=sky-20210210>{{cite news |url=https://news.sky.com/story/judge-criticises-mps-remarks-about-woman-jailed-after-45-000-scam-and-faking-cancer-12214415 |title=Judge criticises MP's remarks about woman jailed after £45,000 scam and faking cancer |last=Sharp |first=Jess |work=Sky News |date=10 February 2021 |access-date=17 July 2021}}</ref>

Harris resigned as [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to Starmer on 11 May 2021, accused of inflaming party tensions following the [[2021 United Kingdom local elections|2021 local elections]] and subsequent [[May 2021 British shadow cabinet reshuffle|shadow cabinet reshuffle]].<ref name="walesonline-20210511">{{cite news |last=Mosalski |first=Ruth |date=11 May 2021 |title=Carolyn Harris resigns as aide for Labour leader Keir Starmer amid allegations of spreading rumours |newspaper=Wales Online |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/carolyn-harris-keir-starmer-aide-20571539 |access-date=11 May 2021}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported that a Labour MP had made a formal complaint about Harris' conduct and comments about the private lives of shadow cabinet ministers,<ref name="guardian-20210511">{{cite news |last=Elgot |first=Jessica |date=11 May 2021 |title=Keir Starmer aide Carolyn Harris resigns |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/11/keir-starmer-aide-carolyn-harris-resigns |access-date=11 May 2021}}</ref> which ''The Times'' reported to include [[Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Deputy Leader]] [[Angela Rayner]].<ref name=times-20210511>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/angela-rayner-could-oust-you-from-the-top-job-sir-kier-starmer-told-kvpxds5w2 |title=Keir Starmer's aide Carolyn Harris resigns amid accusations of spreading rumours about Angela Rayner |last1=Zeffman |first1=Henry |last2=Maguire |first2=Patrick |last3=Courea |first3=Eleni |last4=Wright |first4=Oliver |newspaper=The Times |location=London |url-access=subscription |date=11 May 2021 |access-date=11 May 2021}}</ref> Harris denied being forced to step down, attributing her decision to personal issues and a high workload.<ref name=":0" />


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
{{UK MP links
| parliament = Carolyn-Harris/4480
| hansard =
| hansardcurr =
| guardian =
| theywork = 25308/carolyn_harris/swansea_east
| record =
| bbc =
| journalisted =
|publicwhip=42134}}


{{s-start}}
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{{s-par|uk}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Siân James (politician)|Siân James]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Siân James (politician)|Siân James]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Member of Parliament]]<br>for [[Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency)|Swansea East]]|years=[[United Kingdom general election, 2015|2015]]–present}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency)|Swansea East]]|years=[[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]]–present}}
{{s-inc}}
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{{s-end}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi]]

{{Wales Labour Party MPs}}

{{Persondata
| NAME = Harris, Carolyn
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = British politician
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to the [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Leader of the Opposition]]
| years = 2020
}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}{{Labour Party UK MPs}}__FORCETOC__
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Carolyn}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Carolyn}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Welsh constituencies]]
[[Category:Labour Party (UK) MPs]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Welsh constituencies]]
[[Category:Alumni of Swansea University]]
[[Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Welsh constituencies]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2015–20]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Welsh Labour MPs]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Swansea constituencies]]

[[Category:UK MPs 2015–2017]]
{{UK-MP-2015-20-stub}}
[[Category:UK MPs 2017–2019]]
{{Wales-Labour-UK-MP-stub}}
[[Category:UK MPs 2019–2024]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2024–present]]
[[Category:21st-century British women politicians]]
[[Category:Labour Friends of Israel]]
[[Category:Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East]]

Latest revision as of 21:14, 13 August 2024

For other people named Carolyn Harris, see Carolyn Harris (disambiguation).

Carolyn Harris
MP
Official portrait, 2024
Deputy Leader of Welsh Labour
Incumbent
Assumed office
21 April 2018
LeaderCarwyn Jones
Mark Drakeford
Vaughan Gething
Eluned Morgan
Preceded byOffice established
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition
In office
6 April 2020 – 11 May 2021
LeaderKeir Starmer
Preceded byTanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
Succeeded bySharon Hodgson
Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
In office
3 July 2017 – 10 April 2020
LeaderJeremy Corbyn
Preceded byKate Osamor
Succeeded byGill Furniss
Shadow Minister for Safeguarding and Vulnerability
In office
24 September 2016 – 3 July 2017
LeaderJeremy Corbyn
Preceded bySarah Champion
Succeeded byJess Philips
Member of Parliament
for Neath and Swansea East
Swansea East (2015—2024)
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 May 2015
Preceded bySiân James
Majority6,627 (16.5%)
Personal details
Born (1960-09-18) 18 September 1960 (age 64)
Swansea, Wales
Political partyLabour
Alma materSwansea University
WebsiteOfficial website

Carolyn Harris (born 18 September 1960) is a Welsh politician serving as Deputy Leader of Welsh Labour since 2018. She has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Swansea East since 2015.

Harris served as Shadow Minister for Safeguarding and Vulnerability from 2016 to 2017, and a junior Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities from 2017 to 2020. She was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, Keir Starmer, from 2020 to 2021.

Early life and career

[edit]

Harris was born on 18 September 1960 in Swansea, Wales.[1] She attended Swansea University from 1994 to 1998, where she studied a joint degree in Social History and Social Policy.

Following university, Harris worked for Swansea-based community projects such as the Guiding Hand Association and the Joshua Foundation. She has previously worked as a barmaid and a dinner lady.[2] Before her election to the Commons, she was a Parliamentary assistant to her predecessor, Siân James.[citation needed]

Parliamentary career

[edit]

Harris was elected to Parliament at the 2015 general election.[3] She gave her maiden speech on 8 June 2015, in which she argued that Dylan Thomas was wrong about his description of Swansea as "this ugly, lovely town".[4]

Harris served as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the shadow Home Affairs team from September 2015 to October 2016. She was promoted within the team as Shadow Minister for Safeguarding and Vulnerability in September 2016,[5][6] and became a junior Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities in July 2017.

Harris is a friend and ally of Keir Starmer,[7] encouraging him to stand in the 2020 Labour leadership election and co-chairing his campaign.[8] She was appointed PPS to Starmer when he became Leader of the Opposition in April 2020,[9][10] serving until her resignation in May 2021.

Harris is a member of Labour Friends of Israel.[11]

Deputy leadership of Welsh Labour

[edit]

The Labour Party announced in September 2017 that it would create the position of Deputy Leader of Welsh Labour, and that the post would be held by a woman.[12] On 24 January 2018, Harris was confirmed as one of three candidates, alongside Newport City Council leader Debbie Wilcox and Assembly Member (AM) and former MP Julie Morgan[13]

Harris was elected on 21 April 2018[14] after securing 51.5% of the electoral college vote, narrowly defeating Morgan.[15] Harris won the majority of votes from affiliated groups, AMs and MPs, but lost the membership by a margin of 2 to 1.[16][17] The electoral college system was abolished in favour of one member, one vote in September 2018.[18]

Campaigns

[edit]

Harris has led many successful campaigns during her time in Parliament, on issues including children's funerals, fixed-odds-betting terminals and electricity fires in homes. During her first year in Parliament, she raised issues such as the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon, electrification of the South Wales mainline to Swansea, and various consumer issues such as fixed odds betting terminals and faulty electrical goods.

After losing her son Martin in 1989, Harris was forced to take out a loan and rely on donations from the community to cover the funeral costs. Not wanting other parents to suffer the same hardship, Harris spoke about her grief in an adjournment debate on 28 November 2016. She went on to work with the Fair Funerals Campaign to press the Government to create a Children's Funeral Fund.[19] The fund was announced for Wales in March 2017,[20] by PM Theresa May for England in March 2018, and Scotland in May 2018.[21][22]

Following a two-year campaign to reduce the maximum stake on fixed-odds-betting terminals from £100 per spin to £2, on 17 May 2018 the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport announced that they would be reducing the stake in line with Harris's suggestion of £2 a spin.[23]

Harris started a campaign on fires caused by electrical products in people's homes as a result of a death of a constituent, Linda Merron in Penlan, Swansea.[24] Her campaign is to raise awareness of cheap electrical goods being sold online and the potential impact of unsafe goods and she has had several debates in the House of Commons on the issue.[25]

Controversies

[edit]

Harris faced allegations of making homophobic remarks by a former colleague in July 2018, as well as an alleged assault. She apologised for her conduct, which occurred before Harris was an MP, but added that her remarks would have been "office banter".[26] Due to the equivocal nature of the apology, some party colleagues called for her to step down as a Shadow Equalities Minister.[27] However, party leader Jeremy Corbyn, First Minister Carwyn Jones, and other LGBT colleagues supported Harris.[28]

Harris was criticised for inviting Nicole Elkabbas, a convicted criminal, to speak at a parliamentary event on anti-gambling in February 2021. Two months earlier, Elkabbas was found guilty of eliciting tens of thousands in donations by faking a cancer diagnosis.[29][30] Harris gave Elkabbas a character reference at her sentencing, which she defended as being "in connection with her addiction leading her to crime."[29][31]

Harris resigned as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Starmer on 11 May 2021, accused of inflaming party tensions following the 2021 local elections and subsequent shadow cabinet reshuffle.[32] The Guardian reported that a Labour MP had made a formal complaint about Harris' conduct and comments about the private lives of shadow cabinet ministers,[33] which The Times reported to include Deputy Leader Angela Rayner.[34] Harris denied being forced to step down, attributing her decision to personal issues and a high workload.[8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Carolyn Harris MP". myparliament.info. MyParliament. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  2. ^ Nelson, Nigel (29 October 2016). "MP was forced to borrow money and take out loan just so she could afford to bury tragic son". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  3. ^ "Election 2015: Swansea East parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  4. ^ Cornock, David (9 June 2015). "MP: Dylan Thomas wrong about his 'ugly, lovely town'". BBC News. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
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[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carolyn Harris.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Swansea East
2015–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition
2020 		Incumbent
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