Tracy Lynn Brabin(born 9 May 1961) is a British politician who has been theMayor of West Yorkshiresince the office was established on 10 May 2021. She was previously theMember of Parliament(MP) forBatley and Spenfrom 2016 to 2021 under theLabour and Co-operativebanner.[1]
Tracy Brabin | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Mayor of West Yorkshire | |||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 10 May 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Office established | ||||||||||||||
| Member of Parliament forBatley and Spen | |||||||||||||||
| In office 20 October 2016 – 10 May 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Jo Cox | ||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Kim Leadbeater | ||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||
| Born | 9 May 1961 Batley,West Riding of Yorkshire,England | ||||||||||||||
| Political party | Labour Co-op | ||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Loughborough University(BA) University of the Arts London(MA) | ||||||||||||||
| Website | Official Website | ||||||||||||||
Born inBatley,Brabin was an actress and television writer prior to entering politics, appearing in several Britishsoap operasincludingCoronation Street,Doctors,EastEnders,CasualtyandEmmerdale.She was elected for Batley and Spen inan October 2016 by-electionafterthe murderof previous incumbentJo Cox.
She was appointed asShadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and SportbyJeremy Corbynin January 2020, succeeding former Deputy Labour LeaderTom Watson.In April 2020, new Labour LeaderKeir Starmerremoved Brabin from theshadow cabinetand appointed herShadow Minister for Cultural Industries.
She resigned as an MP after winning the2021 West Yorkshire mayoral election.Her resignation triggered aby-election,which Labour'sKim Leadbeaterwon. She is the first ever woman to serve as a metro-mayor.
She won a second term in the2024 West Yorkshire mayoral election.
Early life
editBrabin was born inBatleyin theWest Riding of Yorkshire,and educated atHeckmondwike Grammar School.[2]She studied drama atLoughborough Universityand gained aMaster of Artsdegree in screenwriting from theLondon College of Communicationof theUniversity of the Arts Londonin 2001.[3]
Arts career
editTelevision
editBrabin played clumsy waitress Sandra oppositeDavid JasoninA Bit of a Do,Tricia ArmstronginCoronation Streetfrom 1994 to 1997, and Ginny in three series ofRichard Harris'sOutside Edge.She appeared inEastEndersasRoxy Drake,The Ghost Hunteras Mrs Oliver,Love + Hateas Gaynor, and in an episode ofMidsomer Murders( "Dead Letters", 2006).
In 2008, she appeared in a series of commercials for supermarket chainSainsbury'splaying Sarah, a mother-of-two and Sainsbury's employee who does her weekly shopping at the store.[4]In 2014, she appeared as Lyndsey Bernstein inLaw & Order: UK,Pam inUndeniable,and asCaroleinEmmerdale.[5][6]
Film
editInCharles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After(1992), Brabin playedSarah, Duchess of York.In 2012, she played Maggie, a mother who comes to realise she is one of a race of aliens, in artistShezad Dawood’s first feature, the sci-fi art-house filmPiercing Brightness.
Theatre
editBrabin played Linda, Sharon and Annie inSimon Beaufoy's playThe Full Monty,[7]an adaptation of his screenplay for the film, directed by Sheffield Theatre'sDaniel Evans.The play opened at theSheffield Lyceumto excellent reviews, followed by a national tour and aWest Endrun at theNoël Coward Theatre.The production was nominated for theBest New Comedyat theLaurence Olivier Awardsin 2014. Brabin's previous theatre performances include the lead role in Shelagh Stevenson'sThe Long Roadat Curve inLeicesterdirected by Adel Al Salloum and Joy inMeatwritten by Jimmy Osbourne for London's 503 Theatre.
Writing
editBrabin has written forHeartbeat,Family Affairs,Crossroads,The Story of Tracy Beaker,andHollyoaks,on which she worked for two years. She has written forShamelessforCompany Picturesand for three series ofSeacht– nominated for Best Youth Programme Irish Film and Television Awards in 2011. With her mentor Elizabeth Karlsen, the producer ofMade in Dagenham,she was involved on the romantic comedy featureFather Augustfor the prestigiousShe Writesprogramme, with Minkie Spiro attached to direct. Brabin wrote an episode ofDoctorswhich was screened in December 2012.
Political career
editBrabin publicly endorsed theLabour Partyat the 1997 general election, writing an article for the Labour-supportingDaily Mirrornewspaper explaining that her father-in-law had died on a hospital trolley while waiting to see a doctor.[8]In May 1998 she appeared in aparty political broadcastfor the Labour Party, appealing for people to join it.[9]In March 2005, Brabin was the lead member of a group of nine actors to write toThe Observerexplaining that while they continued to oppose theBlair government's military intervention inIraq,they still "strongly support the re-election of a Labour government".[10]She canvassed for the Labour Party in theKirkleescouncil election in 2012.[11]
WhenJo Coxwas selected as Labour candidate forBatley and Spen,Brabin joined her campaign against the closure of libraries in the constituency.[12]
Parliamentary career
edit
In August 2016, Brabin said that she was considering standing in theBatley and Spen by-election,caused byCox's murder.[13]On 19 September, she was shortlisted along with Labour activist Jane Thomas.[14]Brabin was selected at a meeting on 23 September.[15]TheConservative Party,Liberal Democrats,Green PartyandUKIPdid not field candidates as a mark of respect to Cox.[16]On 20 October 2016, Brabin was elected with an increased majority of around 10,000.[17]She was then sworn in on 24 October.[18]
Brabin made hermaiden speechin theHouse of Commonson 2 November, paying tribute to her predecessor, whom she described as "inspirational". The speech won applause from fellow MPs.[19]
Brabin retained the seat in the2017 general election,with a majority of just under 9,000 over the Conservative Party candidate.[20]On 3 July 2017 she was appointed as Shadow Early Years Minister by Labour leaderJeremy Corbyn.[21]
Brabin was re-elected as the MP for Batley & Spen in the2019 General Election,with a majority of 3,525.[22]She was appointed asShadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sportin January 2020 after the previous holder,Tom Watsonstood down at the 2019 general election.[23]She was replaced as Shadow Culture Secretary inKeir Starmer's Shadow frontbench announcement but madeShadow Minister for Cultural Industries.[24]
In March 2021, a teacher atBatley Grammar Schoolshowed cartoons depictingMuhammad,the founder ofIslam,from the French satirical magazineCharlie Hebdoduring a religious studies lesson.[25]This led to protests. The school apologised and suspended the teacher involved.[26]The teacher was allegedly placed in police protection after receiving death threats.[27]Brabin responded to this by stating that she condemned the threats towards the teacher, welcomed the apology given by the school, and urged "all involved to work together and calm the situation".[28]
Mayor of West Yorkshire
edit
Brabin was the Labour Party's nomination for the inauguralMayor of West Yorkshirein the2021 election.[29]As a result, she stood down from her frontbench role to focus on her mayoral campaign, withAlison McGoverntaking over her responsibilities.[30]The mayoralty includes powers over transport, crime and planning in the region of 2.3 million people, which includes the cities ofLeeds,BradfordandWakefield.[31]
In the election, held on 6 May 2021, Brabin won 43% of the first-round vote, failing to secure a majority, and 59.8% of transfer second-round votes, with the closest challenger being Matthew Robinson of the Conservative Party. This made her the first woman to be elected as ametro mayor.[32]Upon taking office, she became entitled to the style ofMayor.[33]Brabin follows two former Labour MPs –Andy BurnhamandSteve RotheraminGreater Manchesterand theLiverpool City Regionrespectively – representing their regions as mayor, whileDan Jarvis,mayor of theSheffield City Region,has concurrently remained the member of parliament forBarnsley Central.However, Brabin had to resign her Batley and Spen seat, triggering a by-election,[1]asElectoral Commissionrules make the police and crime responsibilities in the role incompatible with being an MP.[31]
Brabin stood for a second term in the2024 West Yorkshire mayoral election,[34]and retained the position.[35]
Filmography
editTelevision credits
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | A Bit of a Do | Sandra Pickersgill |
| 1989 | Hale and Pace | Various characters |
| 1989 | Coronation Street | Chloe (2 episodes) |
| 1991 | Riff-Raff | Singer |
| 1992 | El C.I.D. | Fran |
| 1992 | Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After | Sarah, Duchess of York |
| 1994 | Peak Practice | Lou Clarke |
| 1994–1997 | Coronation Street | Tricia Armstrong(193 episodes) |
| 1994–1996 | Outside Edge | Ginnie Willis (9 episodes) |
| 1995 | Mayday Mayday | Sylvia Redpath |
| 1999 | Sunburn | Sheila Adams |
| 2000 | The Ghost Hunter | Mrs. Oliver |
| 2000 | Where the Heart Is | Stella Taylor |
| 2000 | The Bill | Mrs. Sanderson |
| 2000 | Doctors | Lucy Carlton |
| 2001 | EastEnders | Roxy Drake (7 episodes) |
| 2001 | Holby City | Lucy Gartside |
| 2002 | Nice Guy Eddie | Stephanie |
| 2002 | Silent Witness | Nina Palmer |
| 2002 | The Bill | Pam |
| 2003 | Is Harry on the Boat? | Isobel |
| 2004 | Bodies | Karen Taylor |
| 2004 | Heartbeat | Sandra Tetley |
| 2005 | Coronation Street: The Duckworth Family Album | Herself |
| 2005 | Love + Hate | Gaynor |
| 2005 | Holby City | Stella Howard |
| 2006 | An Audience with Coronation Street | Herself |
| 2006 | Rosemary & Thyme | Nicola Spicer |
| 2006 | Midsomer Murders | Ruth Chalk |
| 2006 | Strictly Confidential | Tina Roebottom |
| 2006 | Doctors | Tina Machin |
| 2007 | Casualty | Veek Kitching |
| 2007 | The Real Extras | Herself |
| 2007 | The Good Samaritan | Gloria |
| 2008 | Doctors | Amanda Webster |
| 2008 | The Bill | Isabel Edgar |
| 2009 | Casualty | April |
| 2014 | Emmerdale | Carole (7 episodes) |
| 2014 | Law & Order: UK | Lindsey Bernstein |
| 2014 | Casualty | Roz Conlon |
Writing credits
edit- Crossroads(2001)
- The Story of Tracy Beaker(2003–2005)
- Tracy Beaker Parties with Pudsey(2004)
- Heartbeat(2005)
- Family Affairs(2005)
- Hollyoaks(2008–2010)
- Shameless(2009)
- Seacht(2011)
- Doctors(2012)
References
edit- ^ab"Tracy Brabin chosen as Labour mayor candidate for West Yorkshire".BBC News.11 December 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 10 May 2021.Retrieved10 May2021.
- ^Banerjee, Rohan (17 September 2021)."Tracy Brabin: How West Yorkshire's mayor came home".New Statesman.Archivedfrom the original on 17 September 2021.Retrieved17 September2021.
- ^Perraudin, Frances (30 September 2016)."Tracy Brabin: 'I hope I can build on Jo Cox's legacy'".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 19 October 2016.Retrieved17 October2016.
- ^"Sainsbury's ad for former Coronation Street star Tracy Brabin".Daily Mirror.3 September 2008.Archivedfrom the original on 22 November 2008.Retrieved30 November2008.
- ^"Emmerdale spoilers: ex-Coronation Street actress Tracy Brabin to play Ashley's new love interest".Archivedfrom the original on 17 September 2016.Retrieved6 September2016.
- ^"Casting news: Tracy Brabin joins Emmerdale".Archived fromthe originalon 16 September 2016.Retrieved6 September2016.
- ^"Tracy's West End dream will be fulfilled at last".Spenborough Guardian.11 May 2013.Retrieved26 August2014.
- ^Daily Mirror,14 April 1997.
- ^David Boothroyd (9 July 2017)."Party Political Broadcast: Join the Labour Party!".Archivedfrom the original on 24 November 2021.Retrieved9 July2017– via YouTube.
- ^"Letters".The Observer.3 April 2005.Archivedfrom the original on 9 January 2019.Retrieved9 July2017.
- ^"Labour's star turn".Huddersfield Daily Examiner.27 April 2012. p. 4.
- ^"Emmerdale actress against library cuts".Batley and Birstall News. 11 September 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 26 October 2017.Retrieved9 July2017.
- ^"Jo Cox MP death: Actress Tracy Brabin may stand in Batley & Spen by-election".BBC News.24 August 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 27 August 2016.Retrieved20 September2016.
- ^Halliday, Josh (19 September 2016)."Former actor Tracy Brabin is frontrunner to win Jo Cox's seat".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 19 September 2016.Retrieved20 September2016.
- ^"Soap star Tracy Brabin to stand in Jo Cox by-election".BBC News.23 September 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 23 September 2016.Retrieved23 September2016.
- ^Halliday, Josh (19 September 2016)."Former actor Tracy Brabin is frontrunner to win Jo Cox's seat".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 19 September 2016.Retrieved20 September2016.
- ^"Batley and Spen by-election: Tracy Brabin victory for 'hope and unity'".BBC News.21 October 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 23 October 2016.Retrieved21 October2016.
- ^"Tracy Brabin and Robert Courts sworn in as MPs".BBC News.24 October 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 1 December 2018.Retrieved21 June2018.
- ^"Tracy Brabin pays tribute to Jo Cox in maiden speech".BBC News.2 November 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 6 November 2016.Retrieved12 November2016.
- ^"Batley and Spen Parliamentary Constituency".BBC News.9 June 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 8 May 2015.Retrieved13 June2017.
- ^"Reshuffle 2: The Maintenance of the Malcontents".New Socialist.8 July 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 11 April 2019.Retrieved10 July2017.
- ^"Batley & Spen parliamentary constituency – Election 2019".BBC News.19 December 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 8 May 2015.Retrieved19 December2019.
- ^"PM renews push to get his Brexit deal through Parliament – live".Evening Standard.7 January 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 7 April 2020.Retrieved7 January2020.
- ^Rodgers, Sienna (9 April 2020)."Shadow ministers appointed as Starmer completes frontbench".LabourList.Archivedfrom the original on 10 April 2020.Retrieved9 April2020.
- ^Airey, Tom (1 April 2021)."Batley Grammar School: Blasphemy debate leaves town 'at crossroads'".BBC News.Archivedfrom the original on 15 May 2021.Retrieved15 May2021.
- ^Adams, Richard (25 March 2021)."Teacher suspended over use of Charlie Hebdo cartoons".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 15 May 2021.Retrieved15 May2021.
- ^Turner, Camilla; Mendick, Robert (26 March 2021)."Education Secretary condemns threats to Batley teacher amid Prophet Mohammed cartoon row".The Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on 15 May 2021.Retrieved15 May2021.(subscription required)
- ^@TracyBrabin (26 March 2021)."Please see below for my statement on the protests at Batley Grammar School"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
- ^Richmond, Tom."Dr Who star Jodie Whittaker backs Tracy Brabin's West Yorkshire mayoral bid".The Yorkshire Post.Archivedfrom the original on 14 October 2020.Retrieved9 October2020.
- ^Rodgers, Sienna (16 December 2020)."Tracy Brabin steps down from Labour frontbench to focus on mayoral bid".LabourList.Archivedfrom the original on 18 February 2021.Retrieved28 March2021.
- ^abHalliday, Josh; Mistlin, Alex (9 May 2021)."Labour's Tracy Brabin elected first mayor of West Yorkshire".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 9 May 2021.Retrieved10 May2021.
- ^"Election results 2021: Tracy Brabin elected West Yorkshire mayor".BBC News.9 May 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 10 May 2021.Retrieved10 May2021.
- ^Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009,s 107A(5).
- ^"Tracy Brabin to run for second term as Mayor of West Yorkshire".BBC News.18 September 2023.Retrieved21 February2024.
- ^"Leeds City Council: Mayoral Election".Leeds City Council.Retrieved7 May2024.
