On 6th May 2016 Gill Furniss became the new MP for the Brightside and Hillsborough constituency. The passing away of Harry Harpham on 4th February this year triggered a by-election in which the Labour Party selected his widow, Gill Furniss, as their candidate.
On winning the election, increasing Labour’s share of the vote by 6%, Gill promised to campaign for a review into the provision of council housing, the bedroom tax and disability allowances, whilst wanting to end the government’s ‘North of England savagery’.
Gill Furniss was born in Sheffield, the daughter of a steel worker. She has always lived within the constituency and attended Chaucer Secondary School. Gill worked for six and a half years as an administrator at the Northern General Hospital. In 1998, she graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University with a BA in Library and Information Studies.
By 1999 Gill had developed a keen interest in politics and was elected as a Labour councillor for Southey ward on Sheffield City Council. She had stood elsewhere in the 2001 general election, coming third.
Gill has is passionate to “make a difference” to ensure the Labour Party form a credible opposition to the government. Within two weeks of being elected, Gill stood up at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) to demand a full investigation into the battle of Orgreave so that there might be complete resolution following the Hillsborough inquiry.
Gill has met Chief Superintendent David Hartley, the Sheffield District Commander of South Yorkshire Police, to discuss a range of issues. She will also be looking into Firs Hill School’s recent decline in performance.
Gill will be holding regular advice surgeries in the constituency. To find out more, visit https://www.gillfurniss.org.uk or email Gill.Furniss.mp@parliament.uk.