Election campaign Launch

About Debbie

Debbie Abrahams has been the Member of Parliament for Oldham East and Saddleworth since her by-election victory in January 2011 and was re-elected in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

She Chaired the Parliamentary Labour Party’s Health Committee leading an inquiry which reviewed the effectiveness of international health systems in improving quality and equity, which contributed to Labour health policy.

Debbie was also a member of Labour’s Health Policy Commission and one of the elected PLP representatives on the National Policy Forum.

DA work and pension Q
Carers week
DA CLP meeting

Debbie was a member of the Work & Pensions Select Committee from June 2011-March 2015 , where she led the call for an independent inquiry into the Government’s punitive New Sanctions Regime.

She was re-elected as a member of the Work and Pensions Committee in July 2015 until her appointment as Shadow Minister for Disabled People in September 2015. In June 2016 she was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and she worked on this brief until 2018.

Debbie is passionate about tackling inequalities and has campaigned extensively for a fairer society, setting up the Oldham Fairness Commission to deliver this in her own constituency.

Rail fares campaign
Royal Oldham Hospital

Debbie is also co-Chair of the APPG on Dementia and the first MP to have trained as a Dementia Friends Champion. In collaboration with her local newspaper, the Oldham Chronicle, her campaign to build a Dementia Friendly Oldham has seen over 4,000 Oldhamers become Dementia Friends.

She is Chair of the APPG on Health in All Policies, working on a cross-departmental approach to health issues and is Chair of the APPG on Kashmir.

One of her most high profile campaigns, ‘Be Fair – Pay on Time’, resulted in late payments to small businesses being included in the 2014 Small Business Bill and with her being the first recipient of the Federation of Small Business’ ‘Business Buddy Award’ and the Gold Award winner at the H&V Awards in April 2015.

Clarksfield School visit Parliament
Young Labour Oldham
Care for the NHS

Debbie’s professional background is in health and she is a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health.

She was Chair of Rochdale Primary Care Trust and Director of a public health research group at the University of Liverpool, advising Health Ministries across the globe as well as agencies such as the World Health Organisation.

Debbie is married to former Lancashire County Cricket Club captain, John Abrahams, and they have 2 grown-up daughters.

SHORT BIOGRAPHY

DEBBIE'S POLITICAL RESUME

elected as Chair of APPG for Kashmir

elected as Chair of APPG for Kashmir

2018

Re-elected MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth

Member of Parliament

2016

Appointed Shadow Minister for Disabled People

Appointed Shadow Minister for Disabled People

2015

Member of Work & Pensions Select Committee

Member of Work & Pensions Select Committee

2011

First elected Member of Parliament for Oldham East and Saddleworth

MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth

2002

Senior Research Fellow and then Director of a public health research group

at University of Liverpool

1998

World Health Organisation Health for All Co-ordinator

in Knowsley

1989

Dawn Abrahams born

Dawn Abrahams born

1987

Victoria Abrahams born

Victoria Abrahams born

1986

Married

to John Abrahams

1981

Did more ‘O’ levels while working & started ‘A’ levels

at Bolton Institute of Technology

1976

Born

in Sheffield

2018

Re-elected Chair of APPG on Dementia

Re-elected Chair of APPG on Dementia

2017

Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

2015

Re-elected MP for Oldham East & Saddleworth

Re-elected MP for Oldham East & Saddleworth.

2011

Awarded a Fellowship from the Faculty of Public Health

Awarded a Fellowship from the Faculty of Public Health

2011

Chair of Rochdale Primary Care NHS Trust

Chair of Rochdale Primary Care NHS Trust

2000

Non-Executive Director

of Bury & Rochdale Health Authority

1992

Worked in education and training

for Rochdale Council, 1989-1992.

1989

And enrolled for my Masters

at the University of Liverpool

1987

Worked in community development

in Wythenshawe

1986

Started BSc Hons in Biochemistry & Physiology

at University of Salford

1977

Left school in Kent

with 3 ‘O’ levels

1960

Debbie on FB