I was elected in 2010, having previously served our community as a local councillor, Mayor and Chief Whip of the Council. Before I became the MP I helped run a participation charity and worked for the Scout Association, helping to develop the campaigning and civic skills of young people. I also completed a PhD in Social Psychology from the London School of Economics. In my time in parliament to date, I have served on the Public Accounts Committee, in Labour's Shadow Home Affairs and Business team and lead campaigns on tackling legal loan sharking, online harassment, housing and public debt management. Now I'm on the Science and Technology Select Committee and working on campaigns around PFI, housing, women's equality and tackling islamophobia. When I'm not working for Walthamstow I love to win at pub quizzes, listen to indie music and taste test the good food of Walthamstow.