I am determined to play my part in delivering effective opposition and, ultimately a Labour Government.

Last year I was able to congratulate Sarah Champion, Member of Parliament for Rotherham, on her appointment to Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet as Shadow minister for preventing domestic violence and abuse. I asked her then if she thought of herself as a Westminster politician or a local MP. She told me unequivocally that she was elected by the people of Rotherham to represent the people of Rotherham. As she was one of the 36 MP’s to nominate Corbyn when he initially stood as leader, I asked Ms Champion if she thought he could lead the party into the next election. She said “looking at the major climb down the government has had to do over tax credits, yes, if we keep going in this vein, I believe Jeremy can lead us to the next election and victory”. With this in mind I was rather surprised when she stepped down from the shadow cabinet following what turned out to be a failed coup. She was however one of the first to return, before Corbyn was re-elected. I asked her if her decision to return was based on a belief that Jeremy was the right leader or if it was a determination to give support to the people who desperately need it. She said “I resigned following the PLP's vote of no confidence as I felt the leadership could not continue without a fresh contest. Once this contest was called I felt duty bound to return to my crucial work in supporting victims and survivors of abuse. It was for members to decide who should lead the party and I endorsed no candidate. I am pleased that this issue has now been so conclusively decided and am looking forward to working with Jeremy to hold the Tories to account and deliver a Labour Government”.

After such loyalty I asked Sarah if she was disappointed to not get a more high profile office but she told me “ I was delighted to be appointed to the Shadow Cabinet as shadow Minister for Women and Equalities. I have been a vocal campaigner for equality all my adult life and in particular since my election to Parliament. This government talk the talk on equality but has failed time and time again to deliver. Our country is becoming more divided and less equal. 85% of all Tory cuts have been at the expense of women. One in four young gay people experience homophobic bullying online. There has been a rapid increase in rates of domestic violence and violence against women in the last six years. Disabled people are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as non-disabled people. Labours work on this is more vital now than ever before and I am thrilled to be able to play my part in securing a fairer, more equal society. I am also particularly grateful for the personal support Jeremy has given to me in the last few weeks”.

Now the miserable summer is over and Jeremy Corbyn has been re-elected and has formed a new Shadow cabinet consisting mainly of Northerners and including several women and Trade unionists, I asked Sarah Champion MP if labour could put the summer behind them and raise a serious challenge for power.” I am delighted the disruption of the leadership contest is behind us. Jeremy has a clear mandate to lead the party and it is vital that we unite to take on the Tory Government. The issues we face in the wake of Britain's decision to leave the European Union are too important to allow internal division to prevent proper opposition and scrutiny of the new government. I am determined to play my part in delivering effective opposition and, ultimately a Labour Government. I know my colleagues are committed to do the same” she replied.

Ms Champions constituency in Rotherham was the scene of the shocking child abuse crimes involving hundreds of girls and her role in the shadow cabinet will inevitably lead to a great deal of involvement in those cases . I asked Sarah if South Yorkshire police can ever recover its reputation after systematically failing those girls and the recent revelations about the so called battle of Orgreave, the Rotherham 12 and Hillsborough. She said “South Yorkshire Police is obviously facing a difficult time. There has been serious criticism of its conduct over Orgreave, Hillsborough and more recently over its handling of child sexual exploitation. It is absolutely vital that the people of South Yorkshire can have faith in their Police. The first step to restoring that faith is ensuring that the truth about the force’s past conduct is fully known. That is why I have vocally called for inquiry into events at Orgreave and supported the work of the Hillsborough Independent Panel and the new inquests into the deaths at Hillsbrough”. Since this conversation of course new Home Secretary Amber Rudd has ruled out the possibility of an inquiry in to the events at Orgreave but I am cheered by Sarah Champions determination to do the right thing by her constituents and those who put their faith in a Labour party that will stand up for people like them. She told the Telegraph she was beyond about this. She told them “I am incredibly frustrated for the people who will never see justice, for years research has been done by the Orgreave Truth and Justice committee, and evidence gathered by the IPCC, and this feels like a complete snub for the people of South Yorkshire.