Who is Tracy Brabin? Ex-Coronation Street actress elected to replace murdered MP Jo Cox
TRACY Brabin has been elected to replace slain MP Jo Cox. Here’s everything you need to know about the former actress and political campaigner.
Tracy Brabin has replace Jo Cox as Labour MP
Labour candidate Ms Brabin won with a majority of more than 16,500 in the Batley and Spen by-election in West Yorkshire on Thursday October 20.
Ms Brabin said: "Our friend Jo Cox was taken from us in an act of violent hatred and we are still reeling from the shock of losing such a wonderful person and a fantastic MP."
The Conservatives, Ukip and the Liberal Democrats did not contest the by-election as a mark of respect for Mrs Cox.
Labour finished ahead of the English Democrats and eight other independent and fringe parties including the the far-right National Front and BNP.
Mrs Cox's husband Brendan congratulated Ms Brabin on her election and tweeted "great to see all the purveyors of hate lose their deposits".
This was Jo at the general election count last year as I briefed her on the numbers. She was calm, serene and full of grace that night. https://t.co/LOZI2zp86p
— Brendan Cox (@MrBrendanCox) October 21, 2016
Ms Brabin was a close friend of Mrs Cox, who the Yorkshire seat with majority of more than 6,500 in 2015.
She described the late politician as a “true inspiration and an extraordinary woman”.
Mrs Cox was murdered outside of a constituency surgery
Who is Tracy Brabin?
Ms Brabin – best known as Coronation Street’s Tricia Armstrong – is an English actress-turned-political candidate.
Born in Batley, Yorkshire, her breakthrough role was in ITV comedy A Bit of Do in which she played clumsy waitress Sandra Pickersgill.
Ms Brabin is an actress and screenwriter
Jo Cox's husband: Jo met the world with love
She starred in Coronation Street from 1994 until 1997, and as also had roles in Emmerdale, EastEnders and Casualty. Most recently she has appeared in Holby City, In The Club and onstage in The Full Monty.
The 55-year-old – who has an MA in Screenwriting from the London College of Communication – is also an accomplished writer, having penned scripts for Shameless, Heartbeat and Doctors.
In 2014, Ms Brabin was one of 200 signatories of an open letter to Scotland urging them to vote no in the independence referendum.
Ms Brabin is best known for her role in Coronation Street
She campaigned regularly alongside her friend Mrs Cox on a number of local issues and is “keen to carry on her work”.
Ms Brabin married her long-term partner Richard Platt in July 2005 after 16 years together. The couple have two children – Lois, 23, and Nancy, 19.