Jo Platt

Jo Platt
Official portrait, 2017
Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office
In office 10 July 2018 – 13 December 2019
Leader	Jeremy Corbyn
Preceded by	Laura Smith
Succeeded by	Cat Smith
Member of Parliament for Leigh
In office 8 June 2017 – 6 November 2019
Preceded by	Andy Burnham
Succeeded by	James Grundy
Member of Wigan Council for Astley Mosley Common
In office 3 May 2012 – 5 September 2017
Preceded by	Sean Ell
Succeeded by	Paula Wakefield
Personal details
Born	Joanne Marie Platt 15 June 1973 Salford, England
Political party	Labour Co-op

Joanne Marie Platt (born 15 June 1973) is a British former Labour and Co-operative politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Leigh from 2017 to 2019. She served on the opposition front bench as a Shadow Cabinet Office Minister from 2018 to 2019.

Political career

Platt was elected to Astley Mosley Common ward on Wigan Council at the 2012 local elections and re-elected in 2016. She was appointed as the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People in June 2014, and also served as the Secretary of the Leigh Constituency Labour Party during her tenure on the council. Platt resigned her council seat shortly after her election to Parliament in 2017.

Parliamentary career

Platt was elected as the first female MP for Leigh at the 2017 General Election, succeeding Andy Burnham who stood down following his election as Greater Manchester Mayor. Upon election, Platt advocated greater investment for post-industrial towns, restoring rail connectivity, increased local post-16 education provision and highlighting opportunities arising from devolution.

Platt was a briefly member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee in 2017, but sat on the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee from 2017 to 2018.

Platt was appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Angela Rayner, Shadow Education Secretary, in July 2017. She held the position until July 2018, when she was promoted as a Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, focusing on cybersecurity, government digital projects, digital identity, outsourcing and government implementation. She criticised the Government's cybersecurity record in her role, as well as their handling of Huawei's involvement in the UK's 5G infrastructure. In March 2019, Platt advocated having a single Cybersecurity Minister and a government approach that facilitates the growth of the UK cyber sector in post-industrial towns. She also advocated the uptake of the cyber profession amongst those with neurodiverse conditions.

Platt set up and chaired the All Party Parliamentary Group on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, informing and advising Ministers of the barriers those with ADHD face and the change that is required. In August 2018, she asked every clinical commissioning group (CCG) across the country what their average waiting time for ADHD diagnosis was, ultimately revealing some were waiting an average of two years for a diagnosis. She presented the findings to Prime Minister Theresa May during Prime Minister's Questions, securing a commitment from her to explore whether waiting times could be published to encourage a better diagnosis and treatment.

Platt lost her seat at the 2019 general election to the Conservative Party candidate, James Grundy. The result saw the largest 2017 majority for a party overturned in the country, and was the first time Labour lost the seat since 1922.

In 2022, Platt was selected as the prospective parliamentary candidate for Leigh at the next general election.

Personal

Platt has two children. Since leaving Parliament Platt has worked for the charity Leigh Building Preservation Trust, at a local heritage site Leigh Spinners which is a Grade II* listed mill in the centre of Leigh. Platt is tasked with the management of renovating the building to house heritage, small business, enterprise, arts and culture. Whilst at Leigh Spinners Mill, she has co-created a Co-operatives UK company, Leigh Spinners CBS, in order to drive further development for the site. Platt continues to campaign on local and national issues such as Long COVID, after contracting the virus in March 2020.