ANGRY Labour frontbencher Tracy Brabin says she’s “not a tart” and wasn’t “banged over a wheelie bin”. The Shadow culture secretary hit back at idiotic trolls who mocked her for “inappropriately” baring a shoulder in the Commons. Who is MP Tracy Brabin? Tracy Brabin was elected MP for Batley and Spen – holding the seat […]
ANGRY Labour frontbencher Tracy Brabin says she’s “not a tart” and wasn’t “banged over a wheelie bin”.
The Shadow culture secretary hit back at idiotic trolls who mocked her for “inappropriately” baring a shoulder in the Commons.
Tracy Brabin was elected MP for Batley and Spen – holding the seat for Labour in the by-election triggered by the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox.
She won with a majority of 16,537, 85% of the vote, after the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, UKIP and the Greens decided not to field candidates out of respect for her predecessor.
The 58-year-old said the win was “bittersweet” for her, adding that she hoped Cox would be proud of the community.
Brabin was born on May 9, 1961, in Batley, West Yorkshire, and was educated at Heckmondwike Grammar School.
She studied drama at Loughborough University and later gained a Master of Arts degree in screenwriting from the London College of Communication and the University of the Arts London in 2001.
Brabin starred in Coronation Street from 1994 until 1997 as Tricia Armstrong.
She was first introduced to the famous cobbles when her wayward son Jamie was suspected of shoplifting at Bettabuy.
Hard-up Tricia struggled with money in the soap and she offered to have sex with Mike Baldwin for money.
She was also caged for a week for not paying her TV licence.
The now-MP said during a Commons debate that she quit the soap when six months’ pregnant.
She explained: “After my first daughter was born – she was only a few months old – I was offered a six months contract on Coronation Street.
“Those six months turned into three years, and I absolutely loved the job and the character I played.
“But I can’t deny that being a mother and working on screen presented difficulties.”
Brabin was raising a point of order in the Commons on February 4.
She spoke about Downing Street’s decision to banish senior journalists from some of the UK’s major news organisations from a briefing on Boris Johnson’s Brexit plans.
Brabin spoke at the dispatch box wearing an outfit which revealed a shoulder.
Reacting, trolls on Twitter asked: “Is this really appropriate attire for parliament?”
The unimpressed MP fired back: “Sorry I don’t have time to reply to all of you commenting on this but I can confirm I’m not….
“A slag, Hungover, A tart, About to breastfeed, A slapper, Drunk, Just been banged over a wheelie bin.
“Who knew people could get so emotional over a shoulder…”
There was plenty of humour shown in response to her reply, with one person saying: “I like your shoulder, but more importantly I like that you are an MP who is working hard to make society better.”
Here are some of the other responses:
Brabin married her long term partner Richard Platt in July 2005 after 16 years together.
Richard is an actor and director known for Lines in the Sand (2016), Poppy (2015) and Casualty (1986).
The couple have two children – Lois, 23, and Nancy, 19.
Her breakthrough acting role was in ITV comedy A Bit of Do in which she played clumsy waitress Sandra Pickersgill alongside David Jason.
Most recently she has appeared in Holby City, In The Club and onstage in The Full Monty.
Brabin also appeared in EastEnders as Roxy Drake and had roles in Casualty and Emmerdale.
The actress is also known for a series of Sainsbury’s commercials where she played a mum-of-two and store employee.
Brabin has written for Heartbeat, Family Affairs, Crossroads, Tracy Beaker and Hollyoaks, where she worked for two years.
The star penned material for Shameless and Seachtm, which was nominated for best Youth Programme Irish Film and Television Awards 2011.
Brabin was also involved in romantic comedy Father August, and wrote an episode of BBC soap Doctors.
In 2014, she was one of 200 signatories of an open letter to Scotland urging them to vote no in the independence referendum.
She campaigned regularly alongside her pal Jo Cox on a number of local issues and said she was “keen to carry on her work” following the MP’s murder.
Brabin described the late politician as a “true inspiration and an extraordinary woman”.
