Cara Kim McGuinness (born May 29, 1985, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England) is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Northumbria since July 19, 2019. McGuinness succeeded Dame Vera Baird and was re-elected in 2021.
In July 2023, she was selected as Labour's candidate for the Mayor of the North East, with the election scheduled for May 2, 2024.
McGuinness grew up in the West End of Newcastle, with a scaffolder father who worked on the Tyne shipyards and a mother who was a part-time secretary. Despite financial hardships faced by her family during her childhood, McGuinness became the first person in her extended family to attend university, thanks to the opportunities provided by the Labour Government in 1997.
She attended Gosforth High School and graduated from Newcastle University in 2006 with a degree in History.
Before her political career, McGuinness worked in various sectors, including finance, universities, and charities. Her political journey began when she was elected to represent the Lemington ward on Newcastle City Council in 2015.
She was then appointed to the council's cabinet in 2016 as the executive member for culture, sport, and public health. As Northumbria's PCC, McGuinness has focused on addressing the effects of poverty and deprivation as central components of the region's crime prevention plans.
She has been instrumental in increasing the number of police officers, supporting youth services, and funding Community Hubs to indirectly revive Sure Start programs.
Motivated by her deep pride for the North East and a desire to see the region thrive, McGuinness is standing to be the Mayor of the North East. She emphasizes the need for local communities to have control and for investments to be made directly within these communities.
Her vision includes creating a fairer, greener, and more resilient North East, with a focus on home insulation, public transport improvement, skills training, and community development. McGuinness advocates for regional pride and ambition, aiming to make the North East a hub for culture, arts, creativity, and opportunity.
Kim McGuinness lives in Northumberland with her husband David, a serving RAF officer, and their dogs, Errol and Iris. She has been married for 28 years, a testament to her strong family values.
McGuinness's commitment to public service and her region is evident in her dedication to tackling the challenges facing the North East and ensuring a brighter future for all its residents.
The Labour Party is a prominent political force in the United Kingdom, characterized by its alignment with social democracy and democratic socialism. Situated on the centre-left of the political spectrum, Labour has played a significant role in British politics since its founding in 1900.
Emerging from the trade union movement and socialist parties of the 19th century, it initially served to represent the interests of the working class.
As of the last general election in 2019, Labour holds the position of the Official Opposition in the UK Parliament, having secured the second-largest number of seats. It is the largest party in the Welsh Parliament and the third-largest in the Scottish Parliament.
Internationally, Labour is affiliated with the Party of European Socialists and the Progressive Alliance and holds observer status in the Socialist International.
The Labour Party, under the leadership of Sir Keir Starmer, is focused on restoring economic stability to the UK. They advocate for strict fiscal policies to prevent unnecessary expenditures, promoting transparency and efficiency through new oversight bodies like the Covid Corruption Commissioner and an Office for Value for Money.
Their economic plan is designed to contrast with the perceived instability under the Conservative Party, emphasizing responsible financial management and targeted investments for growth.
Labour criticizes the current government for reducing the UK’s defense capabilities and outlines a plan to revitalize the nation's military resources. The party proposes a comprehensive Strategic Defence and Security Review, supporting the armed forces more robustly, and establishing an Armed Forces Commissioner to ensure the security of the nation and uphold the interests of military personnel.
The party plans a significant overhaul of the UK's immigration and border security systems, aiming to create a more efficient and secure framework. Labour’s strategy includes enhancing the enforcement of border laws, dismantling human trafficking networks, and improving the asylum system to ensure it is both cost-effective and secure.
Labour intends to undertake substantial reforms within the National Health Service (NHS) to address inefficiencies and the backlog caused by Conservative policies. The plan includes investments in healthcare infrastructure such as more MRI and CT scanners, and increasing the number of healthcare professionals to provide better service and care.
Tackling crime and enhancing community safety are central to Labour’s agenda, with plans to increase the police presence and introduce new community policing measures. The party emphasizes preventive strategies, especially focusing on youth crime and the root causes of antisocial behavior, to foster safer communities.
Labour commits to transformative educational reforms to ensure equitable opportunities for all. These reforms include recruiting more teachers, overhauling the curriculum, and investing in school infrastructure to equip students for modern challenges and ensure access to high-quality education and lifelong learning opportunities across the country.
In response to environmental concerns and the energy crisis, Labour advocates for establishing a new publicly-owned clean energy company and expanding renewable energy resources. This initiative aims to reduce dependency on foreign energy, combat climate change, and stimulate economic growth through the creation of sustainable jobs.
The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, with deputy leader Angela Rayner, and General Secretary David Evans, positions itself as a centre-left party, embodying social democratic and democratic socialist ideologies. Founded in 1900, Labour has grown from its trade union roots to become a major political force in the UK, advocating for social justice, economic reform, and public service enhancement.
The party maintains active branches across the UK, including Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and engages with various international socialist and social democratic groups, reflecting its commitment to broad-based, progressive policies.
Labour advocates for a blend of social democracy and democratic socialism, aiming to balance market economics with social welfare policies. It promotes government intervention in the economy, fair distribution of wealth, and comprehensive public services, including healthcare and education.
The party maintains close ties with the Co-operative Party, with many Labour MPs sitting in Parliament as Labour Co-operative representatives. While it supports the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in Northern Ireland, Labour continues to organize and maintain a presence there, adapting its strategies to address both local and national issues effectively.
Overall, the Labour Party remains a key player in shaping the political, social, and economic landscape of the United Kingdom, committed to advancing the principles of fairness, equality, and social justice.