Originally from Grimsby, Angela went to Nottingham University, gaining a First Class undergraduate degree in English. After studying a PHD at Cambridge, she moved to Sheffield where she worked as a lecturer.
Angela has worked in the NHS, the banking sector and before becoming a full-time politician, she was a further education teacher specialising in helping youngsters who wanted a second chance to gain academic qualifications. Angela has been a member of the Labour Party since she was 16 and stood twice unsuccessfully for election to Cambridge Council. In 1996 she was elected to Sheffield City Council for the ward of Broomhill, becoming in 1998 the Chair of Finance and in 1999 Opposition Spokesperson for Education.
In 2000 she was re-elected to Sheffield Council for the ward of Birley and when Labour regained control became Cabinet Member for Education.
In 2005 Angela was elected to Parliament for the constituency of Sheffield Hillsborough and in 2010 re-elected for the new seat of Penistone & Stocksbridge, she again won the constituency for Labour at the 2015 general election.
Between 2005–08 Angela was PPS to Yvette Cooper in CLG and the Treasury. In 2010 she became an Assistant Opposition Whip, a post she held until 2011. Between 2011 and 2014 she was Shadow Deputy Leader of the House. In April of 2014 Angela moved to the Shadow DEFRA team as the Shadow Minister for Water, the Marine Environment, Fisheries and Animal Welfare. In September 2015 she stood down from the opposition front bench to concentrate on environmental issues on the EFRA Select Committee. She is also a former member of the Transport Select Committee. She is a member of the APPG for Finland, and since standing down from her Shadow DEFRA brief in September 2015, maintains a strong interest in these areas including fishing and the marine environment.
In her spare time Angela enjoys walking and watching her favourite football team of Sheffield Wednesday. She lives in the north of Sheffield with her husband.
