Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Climate)
Kerry McCarthy MP
Biography
Kerry McCarthy was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 9 July 2024. She was elected as the Labour MP for Bristol East in May 2005.
Education
Kerry studied Russian, Politics and Linguistics at the University of Liverpool before studying law at the City of London Polytechnic.
Political career
Kerry was Assistant Whip at HM Treasury from 2009 to 2010.
She held several posts while in opposition, including:
- Shadow Minister (Climate Change and Net Zero), 2022 to 2024
- Shadow Minister (Transport), 2020 to 2021
- Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 2015 to 2016
- Shadow Minister (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs), 2011 to 2015
- Shadow Minister (Treasury), 2010 to 2011
- Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions), 2010 to 2010
She also served on Luton Borough Council from 1995 to 1996 and 1999 to 2003.
Career outside politics
Kerry qualified as a solicitor in 1994 and worked as a lawyer before becoming involved in politics.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Climate)
The minister is responsible for:
- international climate and energy policy
- international climate finance
- carbon budgets
- Net Zero strategy
- trade, Net Zero investment and supply chains
- science and innovation for climate and energy
- fusion energy
- citizen engagement