Bridget Phillipson appointed shadow education secretary

The MP for Houghton and Sunderland South was promoted from her previous post as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, which she has held since 2020.

She was first elected an MP to the constituency in the 2010 general election.

On Twitter, Phillipson said, ‘Delighted to accept the role of Shadow Education Secretary under @Keir_Starmer. I had a wonderful education at my local state schools — and every child deserves that. The last Labour Government transformed the lives of a generation. I’ll work every day to see that change again.’

She also paid tribute to the outgoing shadow education secretary Kate Green and her team.

‘Kate showed how ambitious we can be for our children’s future. The Conservatives don’t even have a plan to help them catch up from the pandemic, she said.’

Born in Washington, Sunderland, Phillipson attended local schools and joined the Labour Party at the age of 15.

She read Modern History at Hertford College, Oxford, where she was also co-chair of the University Labour Club, and returned to the North East after she graduated.

Before becoming an MP, she managed a refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence.

She is married with two young children.

Commenting on the appointment, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said, 'We warmly welcome the appointment of Bridget Phillipson as shadow education secretary.

'Now more than ever, the sector needs an effective opposition to scrutinise and, where possible, help shape government policy, and so we hope that she will be a powerful advocate for the early years, along with the rest of the education sector, at this challenging time.'