Alison McGovern MP - Who is she?

Alison McGovern was elected as Labour MP for Wirral South in 2010, being re-elected in 2019 with a majority of 6,105.

As its name suggests the Wirral South constituency covers the southern part of the Wirral peninsular including the towns of Heswall and Bebington. One of Merseyside’s more affluent areas, this seat was held by the Conservatives between 1983 and a 1996 by-election. However this part of Merseyside has turned heavily to Labour in recent years and this has now become a safe Labour seat.

McGovern currently serves as a shadow spokesperson on Work and Pensions.

McGovern backed Jess Phillips in the 2020 Labour leadership election. She supported Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader in 2016, having backed Liz Kendall in the 2015 contest. She is seen as being on the right of the Labour Party, and is Chair of the party’s ‘Progress’ group, itself typically associated with ‘New Labour’.

Esther McVey says she is ‘committed to delivering common sense decisions’ in new role

Born in 1980, McGovern graduated with a degree in Philosophy at London University. After leaving university she worked in the House of Commons as a researcher to Labour MPs, before later working in public affairs for Network Rail, and then the The Art Fund.

She was elected to Southwark Borough Council in London between 2006 and 2010.

In 2020, McGovern did an interview with Grazia magazine in which she described how she has been ‘plagued’ by self-disgust towards her body ever since she was in primary school. McGovern is part of the women’s parliamentary football team.

Alsion McGovern is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Friends of Syria; and previously supported military intervention and air strikes in Syria. She is also Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Performers Alliance; and Women’s Football. She is Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on War Crimes; Football; and Museums.