HODGSON, Sharon

Member for Washington and Sunderland West (revised boundary from former Sunderland South constituency) since 2010; Member for Gateshead East and Washington West 2005-10. Committees: Member, North East Select Committee 2009; Member, Court of Referees Select Committee 2007-09; Member, Children, Schools and Families Select Committee 2007-09; Member, Regulatory Reform Select Committee 2005-09; Member, Ecclesiastical Committee 2005-09; Member, European Scrutiny Select Committee 2005-06. Political career: Shadow Minister for Education since 2010; Opposition Whip 2010; Assistant Government Whip 2009-10; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Dawn Primarolo, Minister of State, Department of Health 2008-09; PPS to Bob Ainsworth, Minister of State, Ministry of Defence 2007-08; PPS to Liam Byrne, Minster of State, Home Office 2006-07. Special political interests: Special educational needs; child poverty; education; school nutrition; regional regeneration (especially North East); employment and jobs; electric vehicles; health (especially cancer) and health inequalities; transport, fuel; poverty. Profession/Trade: Worked for UNISON and the Labour Party. Education: TUC Academy; Newcastle College. Affiliations: CWU, Christian Socialist Movement, Fabian Society. Hobbies: Cinema, theatre, reading, cooking, travel. b. 1 April 1966, Gateshead. Married with two children.