Before being elected as the Labour Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne North in May 2010, Catherine worked as an employment solicitor with a large Newcastle law firm. This followed a degree in Politics and History at Edinburgh University, and studying Law at Northumbria University. 

Catherine was appointed to the position of Shadow Solicitor General by Ed Miliband MP as part of his first frontbench team in October 2010, before being appointed Shadow Minister for Children and Young Families in October 2011.

Catherine became Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and a member of the Shadow Treasury team in May 2012.

Catherine is a member of several All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs).  She is the co-chair of the APPGs for Multiple Sclerosis and for Anti-Corruption, which she founded, and recently became vice-chair of the APPG on Apprenticeships.  Catherine is a passionate advocate for apprenticeships and her work in Parliament, which includes the introduction of an Apprenticeships Bill, reflects this.