FORMER Coronation Street actress turned MP Tracy Brabin has spoken of her delight at being appointed to Labour’s front bench.

The role as shadow minister for early years comes only nine months after she was first elected to represent the Batley and Spen constituency following the murder of Jo Cox.

Mrs Brabin said of the appointment, which was announced on Monday: “It’s an honour to be asked to serve on Labour’s front bench and I’m delighted to join Angela Rayner’s shadow education team.

“I’m passionate about all children receiving the best possible start in life and we know early years can set the tone for a lifetime so we’ve got to get it right.

“For too many parents the cost of childcare keeps them out of work, which isn’t acceptable so we can and must do better.

“We in Batley & Spen know the devastating impact Tory cuts have made to Sure Start centres and the entitlement to free childcare is chronically under-funded, with provision patchy and hard to navigate.

“I’m looking forward to working hard to secure a better deal for parents and children.”

The role sits within the shadow education team, led by Angela Rayner, MP for Ashton-under-Lyne.

Labour’s manifesto included a number of policy commitments, and Mrs Brabin said she was looking forward to building on the work already done and holding the Government to account.

The manifesto commitments include changing to a system of high-quality childcare places with direct government subsidy; subsidised provision on top of free-hour entitlements; extending the 30 free hours to all two year-olds; making some childcare available for one year-olds and extending maternity pay to 12 months.

Leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn said, “I am pleased to welcome Tracy Brabin to Labour’s front bench. With the Government planning to hit schools up and down the country with cuts, Tracy’s passion for children having the best possible start in life, and importance of introducing children to the arts, will make her an asset to Labour’s Education team.”

Mrs Brabin took the Batley and Spen seat at a by-election in October 2016 with a 16,000-plus majority when the other main political parties agreed to not field candidates out of respect for the late Mrs Cox.

At last month’s General Election, she held on to the seat with a majority of 8,961.

The former actress played Tricia Armstrong on the long-running soap Coronation Street in the 1990s.