Kate Hollern


Catherine Malloy Hollern is a British Labour Party politician serving as Member of Parliament for Blackburn since 2015. Hollern served as Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces from January 2016 to October 2016, following the reshuffle of the Shadow Cabinet, and resignation of Kevan Jones. She has served as Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government since October 2016.
In July 2017, Hollern was made Parliamentary Private Secretary to Jeremy Corbyn, then Leader of the Opposition.

Early life and career

Hollern moved to Blackburn in the end of the 1970s. She worked as a manager at Newman's Footwear, before becoming the contracts manager at Blackburn College. She has two daughters.
Hollern led the Labour Group on the Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council since 2004, serving as council leader from 2004 to 2007, and again from 2010 to 2015.

Parliamentary career

In March 2014, Hollern was selected, using an all women shortlist to succeed former cabinet minister Jack Straw as Labour's candidate, for the constituency of Blackburn. She was elected in the 2015 General Election. On 7 January 2016, Hollern was appointed Shadow Minister for Reserves, outside the Shadow Cabinet following the resignation of Kevan Jones.
She supported Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the leadership election. On 10 October 2016, she was appointed Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government. In July 2017, Hollern was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Opposition.

Personal life

Her partner was councillor for the Labour Party, John Roberts, until his death in February 2017.