Christine McCafferty MP
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What is the most common career advice question that young women ask you?
How I became a Member of Parliament and how they can get involved in politics and issues, either as an MP, or on a more local level.

What is the greatest challenge you have faced as a woman in politics?
Getting selected!

What is the best advice you have received and who from?
Barbara Castle told me that when facing a large audience, about to give a big speech, the first thing you should do is take a very deep breath, look around and tell yourself ‘I’m as good as everyone else in the room’. It’s a great confidence builder and I still practise it to this day.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
When I manage to sort out and resolve a long-standing piece of casework. Many people come to see me after they have tried every other way of solving a problem and when I can help sort it out and sometimes even change the law or Government guidelines, it’s a great feeling, for me and my staff.

What is your most outstanding achievement?
I am most proud of the campaign I ran from 1997 to reduce tax on Sanpro from 17.5% to 5%. It will make a real difference to all women at some point in their lives. I am also proud of the work I have done on making Female Genital Mutilation a criminal offence, both here and for UK nationals abroad.

Christine has been a Labour Member of Parliament since 1997 and before that served as a local councillor in West Yorkshire. Christine has been involved with WiB since its inception and is well known as a champion for women’s rights within Parliament. More information about Christine can be found in our ‘People’ section.