Miriam Cates: A Comprehensive Guide to Her Career and Politics

Miriam Cates is a British former politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Penistone and Stocksbridge from 2019 to 2024. A prominent figure on the right wing of the Conservative Party, she became widely recognized for her advocacy of traditional family values, education reform, and “pro-natalist” policies aimed at addressing falling birth rates. During her tenure, she co-founded the New Social Covenant Unit and was a leading voice in the National Conservatism movement, often focusing on the protection of children and parental rights within the school system.

In this guide, you will learn about Cates’s journey from a secondary school science teacher to a “rising star” in Parliament. We will explore her legislative focus on Relationship and Sex Education (RSE), her leadership roles in the “New Conservatives” faction, and her transition into media and commentary following the 2024 General Election. Additionally, this article provides factual details regarding her education at Cambridge University, her voting record on key national issues, and the specific policy areas that defined her five years in the House of Commons.

Early Life and Academic Background

Miriam Cates was born on August 23, 1982, in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, where she was raised in a family that prioritized education and Christian faith. She attended King Edward VII School, a local comprehensive, where she excelled academically and developed an early interest in the political landscape of the United Kingdom.

Cates pursued higher education at Christ’s College, Cambridge, graduating with a degree in Natural Sciences specializing in genetics. Following her undergraduate studies, she returned to South Yorkshire to earn a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from Sheffield Hallam University, setting the stage for her initial career in the classroom.

Career in Education and Business

Before entering the political arena, Cates worked as a biology and chemistry teacher at Tapton School in Sheffield. Her time in the education sector provided her with first-hand experience of the British school system, which she later cited as a primary motivator for her political focus on safeguarding and curriculum reform.

In addition to teaching, Cates co-owned a software consultancy business, Redemption Media, with her husband, David Cates. This entrepreneurial background influenced her perspectives on the local economy and the specific challenges faced by small businesses in the North of England, particularly in the steel-heavy regions of South Yorkshire.

Entrance Into Local Politics

Cates’s formal political career began at the grassroots level as a Parish Councillor for Oughtibridge on the Bradfield Parish Council. During this period, she focused on community-level issues such as local transport improvements, policing, and the preservation of rural green spaces.

In 2018, she contested a seat on the Sheffield City Council for the Stannington Ward but was not elected. Despite this initial setback, her profile within the South Yorkshire Conservative Association grew, leading to her selection as the parliamentary candidate for the highly contested “Red Wall” seat of Penistone and Stocksbridge.

Parliamentary Career (2019–2024)

In the December 2019 General Election, Miriam Cates won the seat of Penistone and Stocksbridge with a majority of 7,210 votes, overturning decades of Labour Party dominance in the area. Her victory was part of a historic shift in Northern England that saw many working-class constituencies elect Conservative representatives for the first time.

While in Parliament, she sat on several influential bodies, including the Education Select Committee and the Ecclesiastical Committee. She used these platforms to challenge government policy on lockdowns during the pandemic and to advocate for a “family-first” approach to taxation and social security.

The New Social Covenant Unit

Alongside fellow MP Danny Kruger, Cates founded the New Social Covenant Unit (NSCU) in 2021. The unit was established to promote a policy agenda centered on strengthening the “intermediate” institutions of society, such as the family, the local community, and the church.

The NSCU argued that both the state and the free market had, at times, undermined these foundational social structures. Through this unit, Cates championed policies like “income splitting” for married couples and increased support for stay-at-home parents, seeking to shift the Conservative Party toward a more socially conservative fiscal policy.

Stance on Education and RSE

One of Cates’s most high-profile contributions to public debate was her critique of the Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum in UK schools. In 2023, she presented a dossier of evidence to the Prime Minister, claiming that many children were being exposed to “age-inappropriate” and “ideological” materials regarding gender and sexuality.

She campaigned for greater transparency, arguing that parents should have a legal right to view all teaching materials used in their children’s classrooms. This work significantly influenced the Department for Education’s subsequent review of RSE guidance, which sought to introduce stricter age limits on certain topics.

National Conservatism and Pro-Natalism

Cates gained international attention for her keynote speech at the 2023 National Conservatism conference in London. In her address, she identified the UK’s falling birth rate as the “most pressing policy issue of our time,” linking it to housing shortages, the cost of living, and a cultural shift away from the traditional family.

She advocated for “pro-natalist” policies, suggesting that the government should actively encourage and support citizens in having children to ensure the long-term stability of the nation’s economy and social fabric. This stance made her a central figure in the broader “NatCon” movement within the UK.

Voting Record and Key Policies

Cates was known as a principled voter who occasionally broke ranks with the government on matters of civil liberties and social ethics. She was one of the Conservative MPs who voted against the introduction of “Plan B” COVID-19 restrictions in late 2021, citing concerns over their impact on children and personal freedom.

• Brexit: Though she initially supported “Remain” in 2016, she became a staunch supporter of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU once in Parliament.
• Immigration: She consistently voted for stricter border controls and supported the “Rwanda Policy” for processing asylum seekers.
• Taxation: She advocated for tax reforms that would benefit single-earner households and families with multiple children.

2024 General Election and Departure

During the July 2024 General Election, the political landscape in South Yorkshire shifted back toward the Labour Party. Despite an active campaign focusing on her local record—including securing £24.1 million for the Stocksbridge Town Deal—Cates lost her seat to the Labour candidate, Marie Tidball.

Following her departure from the House of Commons, Cates transitioned into the media sector. She became a regular contributor and presenter on GB News, where she continues to provide commentary on the same social and political issues that defined her parliamentary career.

Practical Information and Career Milestones

For researchers and observers tracking Miriam Cates’s public contributions, the following data points summarize her official roles and milestones.

• Parliamentary Term: December 12, 2019 – May 30, 2024.
• Constituency: Penistone and Stocksbridge (South Yorkshire).
• Key Committee Roles: Education Select Committee (2021–2024), Ecclesiastical Committee.
• Current Activities: Media presenter for GB News; regular columnist for The Telegraph and The Critic.
• Education: Christ’s College, Cambridge (BSc Genetics); Sheffield Hallam University (PGCE).

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Miriam Cates? 

Miriam Cates is a former British Conservative politician who served as the MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge from 2019 to 2024. She is best known for her socially conservative views and her focus on family and education policy.

What are Miriam Cates’s views on gender? 

Cates holds “gender-critical” views, arguing that biological sex is immutable and should be the basis for single-sex spaces and sports. She has been a vocal critic of gender identity theory being taught in schools.

What did Miriam Cates do before politics? 

Prior to her election, she was a secondary school science teacher specializing in biology and chemistry. She also co-managed a software consultancy company called Redemption Media.

Is Miriam Cates still an MP? 

No, she lost her seat in the 2024 General Election to Marie Tidball of the Labour Party. She currently works in media and political commentary.

What is the New Social Covenant Unit? It is a policy group co-founded by Cates and Danny Kruger that advocates for strengthening families and local communities through conservative social and economic reforms.

What is Miriam Cates’s educational background? 

She graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in Natural Sciences (Genetics) and later obtained a teaching qualification (PGCE) from Sheffield Hallam University.

Did Miriam Cates support Brexit? 

While she voted to remain in the 2016 referendum, she became a dedicated supporter of Brexit after being selected as a Conservative candidate, arguing that the democratic will of the people must be upheld.

What is her stance on net zero? 

Cates has expressed skepticism regarding the pace and cost of current net-zero policies. She argues that environmental targets must not disproportionately harm working-class families or the UK’s industrial base.

What is “pro-natalism”? 

In Cates’s context, pro-natalism is the belief that the government should implement policies—such as tax breaks and housing priority—to encourage people to have more children to combat declining birth rates.

What has Miriam Cates said about sex education? 

She has argued that some modern sex education (RSE) materials are “inappropriate” for children and has campaigned for parents to have a legal right to inspect all such curriculum content.

Final Thoughts

Miriam Cates’s political career, while spanning a single parliamentary term, left a distinct imprint on the British Conservative movement. By positioning herself as a “radical traditionalist,” she successfully moved niche debates on birth rates, family-based taxation, and school safeguarding into the political mainstream. Her ability to synthesize scientific background with socially conservative advocacy made her a unique and often polarizing figure in a “Red Wall” seat that had traditionally been a Labour heartland.

Looking ahead to 2026, Cates remains a relevant voice through her roles at the Centre for Social Justice and her broadcasting work. While no longer holding legislative power, her influence persists through the New Social Covenant Unit and her frequent contributions to national discourse. As the Conservative Party navigates its path in opposition, the ideas championed by Cates regarding the “economics of place” and the importance of social institutions continue to serve as a foundational pillar for the party’s right-wing factions.

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