Caitlin with Labour Leader Ed Miliband
Caitlin Bisknell was selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for High Peak in the next general election in September 2012.
Caitlin says: “I am determined to work with local people to win High Peak back for Labour. As an experienced, local candidate I understand the needs and priorities of the borough and its people.
“I have lived in High Peak for more than 20 years after moving here with my husband Martin. Our children Tasha & Eddie both went to local schools and are now studying at university.
“I have been a borough councillor since 1999 and for the past year I have been Leader of High Peak Borough Council following Labour’s success in the local elections in 2011.”
Caitlin has represented the Stone Bench (Fairfield) ward in Buxton since May 1999 and for three years was executive member for local plan and regeneration. In 2003 she was elected as Leader of the Labour group on the borough council.
In 2010 Caitlin was Labour’s parliamentary candidate for High Peak, losing out to the Tory candidate by 4677 votes in the general election.
However, Labour bounced back just a year later to take minority control of High Peak Borough Council in May 2011 and Caitlin was elected as Leader of the Council.
Caitlin grew up in Wellington, Shropshire, the eldest of four children, moving to Chinley with husband Martin and daughter Tasha in 1991; their son Eddie was born at Buxton Hospital in 1992 and they moved to Buxton in 1998. Both Tasha and Eddie are now at university.
As well as being involved in various committees through the council, she is also Chair of Governors at Fairfield Endowed Junior School, which her children attended.
In her spare time she enjoys walking, reading, watching rugby and going to concerts.
After university she trained as a journalist on her local weekly paper the Telford Journal before moving to its sister paper, the Shropshire Star.
From 1995 and 1999 Caitlin was press officer for Tom Levitt MP and Arlene McCarthy MEP. More recently she was the administrator for College of the Peak. Caitlin also organised an international conference on dry stone walling in Cumbria in 2010.