Catherine Atkinson MP
Biography
Catherine Atkinson was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice on 12 May 2026. She was elected Labour MP for Derby North in July 2024.
Catherine studied Divinity at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with a First Class degree, before studying law at City, University of London. She was awarded the Lincoln’s Inn Gluckstein Prize and was a Lord Haldane Scholar, and was called to the Bar in 2006.
Before entering Parliament, Catherine worked as a barrister for seventeen years. Her specialisms included inquiries, inquests, employment law, family law and criminal prosecution.
Since her election, Catherine has represented Derby North in Parliament, drawing on her legal experience in her work on justice, victims and public service.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls
- Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
- Criminal Law
- Victims, Witnesses and Vulnerabilities
- Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
- Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO)
- Victims and Courts Bill (VAC)
- Hillsborough
- Death Management, Inquiries and Coroners
- Miscarriages of Justice
- Criminal Cases Review Commission
- MOJ Mission lead for Safer Streets