Emily was elected to Parliament as Islington South & Finsbury's MP in the General Election on 5 May 2005.
Emily has lived in Islington for 15 years and has three young children who attend state schools. Raised by a single parent living on a council estate, her early experiences as a child have always motivated her both personally and politically. Her mother has been a lifetime Labour supporter and Emily joined the Labour Party aged 17.
Emily has a strong sense of justice and traditional Labour values. She has been active in anti-racist campaigns across London. Before becoming an MP, she campaigned successfully at the national level with trade unions and parents' groups for more family-friendly employment policies and access to childcare - particularly for women. She is backed by the TGWU and has strong links with other trade unions.
As a human rights lawyer in the chambers of Mike Mansfield QC, she has many years' experience of representing people as a criminal lawyer, working to achieve greater justice, equality and human rights.
Most of all, Emily cares about poverty and disadvantage in our Borough and across London. She says:
"Life for the people of Islington is getting better because we have a Labour government. Our economy is stronger and the money that the government is investing in Islington is making real improvements. Half of Islington has benefited enormously from the economic growth, but the poor have been left behind.
I believe that Labour's priority in our third term in government must be to tackle poverty in Inner London. In London 41% of our children and 36% of pensioners still live below the poverty line. Labour has pledged to end poverty in this country and my priority is achieving this goal."
Emily has worked hard to help her constituents since being elected, helping over 11,000 individual constituents. Examples of Emily's work include:
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Championing the cause of the 13,000 families on the housing waiting list and campaigning for make sure more affordable housing is built in Islington, not luxury flats.
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Working with residents to ensure that something is done about the extensive problems of prostitutes and drug dealers moving onto the estates;
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Following some successes, working for a fairer deal for leaseholders.
Since being elected Emily has taken on a number of roles in Parliament, as an independent-minded voice for her constituents.
She is chair of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group (APPCG) and has been working to make cycling easier and safer. As a member of Environmental Audit Select she pressed for greener government policies and campaigned for a climate change bill. Emily helped make changes to the Companies Bill to require companies to take into account the social and environmental effects of their behaviour and has been campaigning for a Marine Bill to protect our seas. She has been visiting schools across the constituency to discuss how a marine bill could help protect sea life.
Emily recently won the Environment MP of the year award, beating David Cameron. Emily was nominated for the award by WWF, who said:
"Emily has been a fantastic advocate for the environment, achieving a great deal in a short time. Since she became an MP in 2005 she has championed WWF's work, advancing parliamentary debate about critical issues like climate change and holding the Government to account - sometimes critical, but always constructive."
Emily is now a member of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee, where she has been working for more affordable housing.
Emily is currently working on her private members Bill, the Housing Association (Rights and Representation of Residents) Bill. It aims to give Housing Association tenants a greater say in how their Estates are managed.
Emily will continue to work hard for her constituents, both in Parliament and around Islington South & Finsbury.
