Katherine Fletcher (born 18 February 1976)[2] is a British Conservative Party politician who serves as the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Ribble in Lancashire, following the 2019 general election.[3] She served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Transport and Minister for Women between September and October 2022.[4]

Katherine Fletcher
Official portrait, 2019
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women
In office
20 September 2022 – 27 October 2022
Prime MinisterLiz Truss
Preceded byThe Baroness Stedman-Scott
Succeeded byMaria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
In office
20 September 2022 – 27 October 2022
Prime MinisterLiz Truss
Preceded byKarl McCartney
Succeeded byRichard Holden
Member of Parliament
for South Ribble
Assumed office
12 December 2019
Preceded bySeema Kennedy
Majority11,199 (20.8%)
Personal details
Born
Katherine Fletcher

(1976-02-18) 18 February 1976 (age 48)[1]
Wythenshawe, Manchester, England
Political partyConservative
Alma materUniversity of Nottingham

Early life and career edit

Katherine Fletcher was born in 1976 in Northenden, before moving to Bowdon in Cheshire, England.[5]

Fletcher attended Royal Green Infants School in Northenden, St Wilfreds Junior School and then the selective Altrincham Grammar School for Girls in Bowdon, Greater Manchester. She studied biology at University of Nottingham, during which time she worked as a nursing assistant in an elderly care home. Before her election, Fletcher worked in banking and assisted in the early setup of the Northern Powerhouse. At the time of the election, Fletcher was a small and medium enterprise (SME) business owner [5] and a town councillor on Knutsford Town Council.[6] Fletcher resigned from the Town Council in April 2020.[7]

Parliamentary career edit

Fletcher stood as the Conservative Party's candidate in Ellesmere Port and Neston at the 2015 general election. She came second in the election to the Labour MP Justin Madders. She was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for South Ribble at the 2019 general election.[8] Her predecessor was fellow Conservative Seema Kennedy, who retired. Fletcher has said the A&E department at the Chorley and South Ribble Hospital should be restored to a 24-hour service.[9]

As of March 2020, Fletcher holds Membership of two Parliamentary Committees: the Science and Technology Select Committee and the Petitions Committee.[10]

Personal life edit

Fletcher qualified as safari ranger (field guide) during a gap year in Mpumalanga in Limpopo province, South Africa, and Mozambique. Away from politics, she enjoys palaeontology and holds a season ticket at Manchester United.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Members' Names Data Platform query". UK Parliament. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  2. ^ Brunskill, Ian (19 March 2020). The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election. p. 335. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1. OCLC 1129682574.
  3. ^ "South Ribble parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Ministerial Appointments: September 2022". GOV.UK. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "Katherine Fletcher". South Ribble Conservatives. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Knutsford Town Council Election Results May 2019". Knutsford Town Council. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Cllr Fletcher Steps Down". Knutsford Town Council. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  8. ^ "South Ribble" (PDF). South Ribble District Council. Retrieved 13 December 2019.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "REVEALED: The suggested shortlist of options for Chorley A&E". www.lep.co.uk. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Parliamentary career for Katherine Fletcher - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament". members.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2021.

External links edit

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for South Ribble

2019–present
Incumbent