About

Kate Dearden MP

Member of Parliament for Halifax & Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection

Kate Dearden is the Labour and Co‑operative Member of Parliament for Halifax and serves as Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection in the Department for Business and Trade. She was appointed to this ministerial role in September 2025, after serving as an Assistant Whip in the House of Commons since July 2024.

Born and raised in Bingley, West Yorkshire, Kate comes from a hardworking family and has long been committed to standing up for the rights of working people. Before entering Parliament, she worked for the Community trade union, championing workers across industries including steel, teaching, and the self-employed, and shaping policy to protect jobs, pay, and working conditions.

Since her election in July 2024, Kate has focused on supporting Halifax communities. She has held cost-of-living advice surgeries across the constituency, brought local businesses together through business forums, championed better transport, and helped secure millions in funding for Calderdale Royal Hospital. Kate has also secured £20 million in investment for Mixenden and parts of Illingworth, driving improvements in local infrastructure and community services. As Minister, she recently spearheaded and passed the landmark Employment Rights Act 2025, strengthening workplace protections and workers’ rights across the UK.

Kate’s priorities for Halifax are clear: tackling the cost of living, supporting small and local businesses, improving transport, making streets safer, addressing anti-social behaviour, and ensuring quality public services for everyone.