Bridget was born and raised in Washington, attending local schools and joining the Labour Party aged 15. After reading Modern History at Hertford College, Oxford – where she was also Co-Chair of the University Labour Club – Bridget returned to the North East. Before becoming an MP, Bridget managed a refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence.

Since her election in 2010, Bridget has served as an Opposition Whip, and has sat on a number of Parliamentary select committees, including the high-profile Public Accounts Committee. In April 2020 she joined the Shadow Cabinet under Keir Starmer as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, before being appointed Shadow Education Secretary in November 2021.