Miriam Cates

Miriam Joy Cates (born 23 August 1982) is a British Conservative Party politician who was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Penistone & Stocksbridge at the 2019 general election.

Cates was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, and attended King Edward VII School. She studied genetics at the University of Cambridge, obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Sheffield Hallam University, and worked as a science teacher in a school in Sheffield. She then became the finance director of the technology consultancy, Redemption Media. Cates co-owns the company with her husband.

Cates stood as a Conservative candidate for Stannington ward in the 2018 Sheffield City Council election. She received 898 votes and finished in third behind the Liberal Democrats candidates.

Cates was selected as the Conservative candidate for Penistone & Stocksbridge on 24 October 2018. She supported the UK remaining within the European Union in the 2016 UK EU membership referendum but during the election campaign she commented that she had since changed her mind and now supported Brexit. Cates was elected as MP in the 2019 general election with a majority of 7,210 (14.5%) on a swing of 8.6% from Labour to the Conservatives. She had previously served as a councillor for Oughtibridge ward on the Bradfield Parish Council since 2015.

After her election, it was reported that a mobile app launched in 2014 by Redemption Media, a company co-owned by Cates and her husband, charged foodbanks for the services that it provided. Cates commented on this by stating that the app had been developed for free, and that the first foodbank to use it had not been charged. After the app was expanded to other foodbanks, there was a set-up charge which was used to help cover development and training costs, and that by joining the app they also received a complimentary subscription to JustGiving.

Cates is married and has three children.