Arlene was elected to the European Parliament in 1994 and has been Labour MEP for the North West region since 1999.

In the new European Parliament (2009) Arlene has been elected Vice Chair of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee:

Arlene said: "This is Labour keeping our pledge to the people of the North West to use our influence in Europe and our membership of the EU to deliver results for our region. The Economic Committee takes the big decisions on Europe's economic recovery plan. We must get the real economy moving again and make sure consumers are protected and informed in the financial services sector. I will use my position to support and promote the North West as a key region to do business and invest in.

Arlene was the first Labour woman MEP to Chair the European Parliament’s powerful Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (2007 to 2009). As Chair she delivered several important new EU laws to end rip-off mobile phone charges; protect vulnerable consumers and the elderly from rogue traders and scams; secured a new EU law to ban toxic toy imports; secured an EU wide ban on the cruel trade in cat and dog fur in the EU.

Arlene is also a children’s rights campaigner leading on campaigns to combat internet child abuse and to introduce an EU-wide missing children hotline.

A graduate of the Police Parliamentary Scheme, Arlene worked with Greater Manchester Police’s Armed Crime Unit to introduced a major reform to EU law on gun control to tackle the illegal supply of convertible weapons to the UK.

Arlene is an active supporter of football in the community, and recently secured additional funding for the Premier League and Football Foundation’s Kickz project.

As well as her website you can also follow Arlene on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EuroMP_ArleneMc and Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArleneMcCarthyMEP