Jo Platt is the Labour and Co-operative Party MP for Leigh and Atherton.

Platt was first elected to parliament at the 2017 general election for the predecessor constituency of Leigh. She lost her seat at the 2019 general election.

Platt returned to parliament at the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 general election for the Leigh and Atherton constituency, Platt received 19,971 votes, representing 48.5% of the vote share. The Reform UK candidate, George Woodward, came second with 11,090 votes (26.9%), while the Conservative candidate, Michael Winstanley, secured 6,483 votes (15.7%). Platt was duly elected with a majority of 8,881.

The Leigh and Atherton constituency is located in Greater Manchester. Created ahead of the 2024 general election, the constituency covers the bulk of the former Leigh seat alongside the town of Atherton, which was transferred from the Bolton West constituency.

The previous MP for the Leigh constituency was the Conservative politician James Grundy. He unseated Platt in 2019. In 2017, Platt succeeded Andy Burnham as the MP for the Leigh constituency, following his election as Greater Manchester mayor.

Political Career

Platt currently serves as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) in 10 Downing Street. A PPS acts as an unpaid parliamentary assistant, providing a link between the senior frontbencher and backbench MPs. The role is widely regarded as the first step on the ministerial ladder. Although they cannot speak for the government in debates, a PPS is bound by collective responsibility and becomes part of the so-called “payroll vote”, expected to support the official line in all divisions. Platt was appointed to this role in July 2026, following the Labour leadership contest and Andy Burnham’s elevation as prime minister.

During her previous stint in parliament, Platt sat on the opposition frontbench as a shadow minister for the Cabinet Office from July 2018 to November 2019. She served as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to the shadow education secretary, Angela Rayner, from July 2017 to July 2018. A PPS acts as an unpaid parliamentary assistant, providing a link between the senior frontbencher and backbench MPs.

Platt has sat as a member of the House of Commons culture, media and sport select committee (2024-2026), the modernisation committee (2024-2026), the housing, communities and local government committee from (2017-2018) and the environment, food and rural affairs committee (2017).

Platt has been listed as the chair of the all-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Greater Manchester, and Long Covid, the secretary for inclusion and nurture in education, and an officer for women’s health.

Platt lost her Leigh seat at the 2019 general election. The Conservative candidate, James Grundy, secured 21,266 votes (45.3%) and a majority of 1,965 over Platt in second place.

Platt went on to criticise the 2019 general election campaign, saying the party had “lost a seat [Leigh] that resembles the heart and soul of our movement”.

She stated: “No one individual is to blame but as a party we must take a long hard look at who we in Labour stand for, who we represent and why the Labour Party was formed.

“This is undoubtedly the greatest challenge our Party has faced but one we must overcome to regain the trust and support of those that I got into politics to serve.”

Platt delivered her maiden speech on 12 July 2017 during a debate on the Grenfell Tower Fire Inquiry.

In it, she said: “The tragedy of Grenfell was felt all over the nation. I am sure that I speak for all in my constituency, who send their thoughts and prayers to all those affected, and similarly want a swift and timely response from the investigation into the events of that terrible night.

“The community surrounding Grenfell wants answers, and if we have learnt anything from past tragedies, it is that the voice of the community must be given paramount attention.”

She added: “I have spent the last six years as an elected councillor in local government and watched this government’s austerity measures chip away at our essential public services. Cuts to adult social care and children’s services are nothing but an attack on the most vulnerable in our society.”

Before her election to parliament, Platt served as a councillor on Wigan Council from May 2012 until September 2017. During her time on the council, she served as cabinet member for children and young people.

Political Views

Leadership elections and loyalty

Starmer stand down: In May 2026, Platt publicly called for Keir Starmer, the prime minister, to step down/set out a timetable for his departure. The move followed the 2026 local elections and devolved elections to the Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru.

Labour deputy leadership 2025: Platt was one of 117 Labour MPs who nominated Lucy Powell for the party’s deputy leadership in September 2025. The election followed the resignation of Angela Rayner, who stepped down as deputy prime minister and deputy party leader after an investigation into her tax affairs. It marked the first time since 2007 that Labour had held a deputy leadership contest while in government.

Powell, the former leader of the House of Commons, was seen as a candidate representing the party’s “soft left”; she was supported by leading soft left figures including Ed Miliband and Andy Burnham. She secured 117 nominations from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), above the 80 required, and went on to win the election – defeating Bridget Phillipson with 54.3% of the vote.

Factional identity and party tradition

Red Wall Caucus: Platt is a member of the Labour Red Wall Caucus, a parliamentary pressure group of Labour MPs representing constituencies in the Midlands and Northern England. Formed in November 2024 and led by Bassetlaw MP Jo White, the caucus serves as a voice for the so-called “red wall” seats that returned to Labour en masse at the 2024 general election.

In May 2025, following a series of disappointing local election results for the Labour Party, the caucus issued a statement calling for a shift in government strategy. The group argued that Keir Starmer’s “plan for change” messaging had “fallen on deaf ears”, inviting ministers to “visit our areas, listen and rebuild the social contract between government and the people.”

The statement added: “The demands raised by new MPs from post-industrial towns where infrastructure is poor with years of underinvestment must be taken off the too-difficult-to-do list.

“Breakaway from Treasury orthodoxy otherwise we will never get the investment we desperately need. The government needs to it improve messaging by telling our story and articulating our values in the language that resonates and is heard.”

In a subsequent letter to Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, on 27 August 2025, the MPs said they were elected “with commitments to destroy the criminal smuggling gang networks, ensure that our border is secure… and to quickly remove those who have no entitlement to be here.”

They went on to critique Farage’s deportations plan.

The MPs added: “We believe that migrants who pose a threat to public safety should be tagged, and that we should expand right-to-work checks to crack down on illegal working. We believe sex offenders should never get asylum in the UK. We believe that the criminal people smuggling gangs should be treated like terrorists.”

Living standards coalition: Platt is a member of the living standards coalition. Established in July 2025, the group’s stated aim was to develop and promote policy ideas that directly reduce everyday costs for households, particularly in areas such as food, energy, housing and childcare. In an open letter published upon its founding, addressed to Keir Starmer, the MPs wrote: “Our constituents will ask one question at the next election: did this Labour government make me better off?”

They added: “To raise living standards, we support government interventions that will help to increase incomes and lower costs.”

Labour Growth Group: Platt has been listed as a member of the Labour Growth Group (LGG) – a vocal faction of backbenchers committed to ensuring economic growth remains the central mission of the government. In an open letter addressed to Keir Starmer, issued upon the group’s founding in July 2024, LGG MPs said it was imperative that “the government grasps the nettle and goes for growth”.

Brexit and Europe

Brexit referendum: Platt supported Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and therefore disagreed with a majority of her constituents, 63.3% of whom voted to Leave.

Electoral reform

Electoral reform amendment: In May 2026, Platt was one of over 70 Labour MPs who signed an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill, calling on the government to establish a “national commission on electoral reform”. Tabled by Alex Sobel as chair of the fair elections APPG, the amendment aimed to force a rethink of the first past the post voting system.

At the time, Sobel described FPTP as “one of the biggest examples of a broken status quo in UK politics.” He invited colleagues to join this “common sense call to take a fresh look at how parliament is elected in modern Britain.”

Proportional representation bill: In December 2024, Platt voted in favour of the Elections (Proportional Representation) Bill – introduced by Liberal Democrat frontbencher Sarah Olney under the 10-minute rule procedure. The bill sought to “introduce a system of proportional representation for parliamentary elections and for local government elections in England”.

A total of 138 MPs supported the bill – with 136 opposed. Notably, 59 Labour MPs backed Olney’s bill.

Introducing the bill, Olney told the House: “First past the post is a broken and unfair system. This summer, the Labour party won a landslide election victory, securing 63% of seats in the House of Commons in return for just 34% of the vote.

“The system leaves millions of voices unheard and creates a divisive, adversarial political climate where collaboration is discouraged and accountability is often sidestepped.”

Welfare

Welfare ‘reasoned amendment’ (June 2025): Platt was one of the over 120 Labour MPs to sign the reasoned amendment to the government’s flagship welfare bill which aimed to reject the proposed legislation.

The amendment, in the name of senior Labour MP Dame Meg Hillier, objected to the fact that the bill had not been subject to a “formal consultation with disabled people” and that “250,000 people will be pushed into poverty” as a result of it, according to a government impact assessment.

The motion also called on the government to wait for the publication of the review into the Personal Independence Payment (Pip), helmed by minister Sir Stephen Timms, and the independent review, conducted by Sir Charlie Mayfield, into how the employment of disabled people could be boosted.

Welfare vote (July 2025): Platt voted in favour of the government’s flagship welfare bill at second reading. The vote came after ministers agreed to significant concessions to avoid defeat via a mass rebellion of Labour MPs on 1 July 2025.

Assisted dying

Platt voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, better known as the assisted dying bill, at second reading (November 2024) and third reading (June 2025).

Social values and conscience issues

Social media ban: In January 2026, Platt was one of over 60 Labour MPs to sign a letter to the prime minister calling for the introduction of an Australia-style ban on social media access for children under the age of 16. Organised by Plymouth Moor View MP Fred Thomas, the initiative brought together a cross-factional coalition of backbenchers – spanning the Socialist Campaign Group, Tribune Group and Blue Labour – to demand action.

The letter called on Keir Starmer to “show leadership” by introducing a minimum age for social media access “to protect young people from the consequences of unregulated, addictive social media platforms”.

It stated: “We are all strong supporters of technology, and of this Labour government’s ambition to use tech to improve lives. But successive governments have done far too little to protect young people from the consequences of unregulated, addictive social media platforms.”

Palestine

Palestinian recognition letter (July 2025): In July 2025, Platt was among the over 254 MPs to sign a cross-party letter calling for the government to immediately recognise the state of Palestine. The letter called on the prime minister and foreign secretary to recognise Palestine at the UN Conference then taking place in New York.

Before Politics

Born Joanne Marie Platt on 15 June 1973 in Salford, England. Platt took a job in local government.

Following her defeat in the 2019 general election, Platt worked as the general manager for the charity Leigh Building Preservation Trust until July 2024.

Platt also served as a board director for the ADHD Foundation until December 2024. She holds unpaid positions as a co-opted governor for Elysium Training and as a director of Pride In Leigh CIC.

She acts as a patron for the Leigh-based organisation Compassion In Action, which provides essential goods to people in crisis. She is also a patron for the Pelican Centre, Leigh Film Society, Everything Human Rights and the Northwest Computer Museum.

Personal Life

Platt lives in Leigh with her partner. She has three children.

She contracted Covid-19 in March 2020 and has subsequently campaigned on issues related to Long Covid.

Trivia

Platt was the first woman to be elected as the MP for Leigh.