Katherine Fletcher

Katherine Fletcher (born 18 February 1976) is a British Conservative Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Ribble in Lancashire, from 2019 to 2024. She served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Transport and Minister for Women between September and October 2022.

Early life and career
Katherine Fletcher was born on 18 February 1976 in Wythenshawe, living in Brooklands until she went to university in Nottingham.

Fletcher attended, St Wilfreds Junior School, Sandilands Junior School in Wythenshawe and then the selective Altrincham Grammar School for Girls in Bowdon, Greater Manchester. She studied biology at University of Nottingham, during which time she worked as a nursing assistant in an elderly care home. Before her election, Fletcher worked in banking and assisted in the early setup of the Northern Powerhouse. At the time of the election, Fletcher was a small and medium enterprise (SME) business owner and a town councillor on Knutsford Town Council. Fletcher resigned from the Town Council in April 2020.

Parliamentary career
Fletcher stood as the Conservative Party's candidate in Ellesmere Port and Neston at the 2015 general election. She came second in the election to the Labour MP Justin Madders. She was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for South Ribble at the 2019 general election. Her predecessor was fellow Conservative Seema Kennedy, who retired. Fletcher has said the A&E department at the Chorley and South Ribble Hospital should be restored to a 24-hour service.

As of March 2020, Fletcher holds Membership of two Parliamentary Committees: the Science and Technology Select Committee and the Petitions Committee.

Fletcher lost her South Ribble seat at the 2024 General Election to the Labour party's Paul Foster with a 17.4 swing to the Labour Party.

Personal life
Fletcher qualified as safari ranger (field guide) during a gap year in Mpumalanga in Limpopo province, South Africa, and Mozambique. Away from politics, she enjoys palaeontology and holds a season ticket at Manchester United.