Dame Diana Johnson · Labour Party
Yorkshire and The Humber, England
: 75,280
Created in the 2023 boundary review, replacing Kingston upon Hull North.
A new constituency created in the 2023 boundary review.
MP News Approval i
+60
Diana Johnson
Labour PartyThe Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson is the Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, and has been an MP continually since 5 May 2005. She currently holds the Government post of Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions).
Sign up free to read the full briefing on Diana Johnson.
Sign up freeCoverage of Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham has been predominantly positive for Diana across 40 recent articles.
Positive coverage
“New Women's Employment Ambassador role announced as millions of working women set to benefit from landmark workplace health drive | Department for Work and Pensions” — WiredGov
“UK Gov Boosts Support for Musculoskeletal Conditions” — Mirage News
Won by Lab in its first election in 2024. Covers Kingston upon Hull and Cottingham. Population 117,023. Recorded crime is 47% above the national average. Median income £25K (below average).
DWP confirms new Universal Credit rule and hands people £4,100 boost
Birmingham Mail · 9 Apr 2026
Sign up free to see how Diana Johnson votes, their stance profile, speeches, and committee roles.
Sign up freeMedian Income▼
£24,700
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Mean Income▼
£29,400
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Businesses▼
2,760
VAT/PAYE registered (ONS 2024)
Schools▼
46
31 primary, 6 secondary, 9 other
Total Income Tax▼
£185m
from 54,000 taxpayers
Median Tax▼
£2,190
per taxpayer / year
Mean Tax
£3,400
per taxpayer / year
Source: HMRC Survey of Personal Incomes, tax year 2022-23. Allocated by taxpayer residence. Covers income tax only — excludes NI, VAT, and capital gains. Sample-based estimate (~8% confidence interval).
Attainment 8▼
45.7
average score (DfE)
GCSE Pass Rate▼
64.9%
5+ GCSEs 9-4 (DfE)
1 city, 1 town, 1 village, rural areas — 116,292 total population
Source: ONS Built-Up Areas (Census 2021) + data.police.uk — crime rates are per 1,000 population (last 3 months)
Source: data.police.uk — street-level crime data aggregated from LSOA to constituency
13 councillors across 10 wards · Last elections: May 2024
| Ward | Party | Councillor | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avenue | Labour Party | Karen Denise Wood | May 2024 |
| Beverley Newland | Liberal Democrats | Michael James Ross | May 2024 |
| Bricknell | Labour Party | Peter Shaun North | May 2024 |
| Central | Labour Party | Shane McMurray | May 2023 |
| Labour Party | Sharon Qassim | May 2023 | |
| Cottingham North | Labour Party | Alex Duke | May 2023 |
| Liberal Democrats | Phillip James Redshaw | May 2023 | |
| Cottingham South | Labour Party | Carolyn Cantrell | May 2023 |
| Labour Party | Kevin Casson | May 2023 | |
| Kingswood | Liberal Democrats | Ted Dolman | May 2024 |
| Orchard Park | Labour Party | Rosie Nicola | May 2024 |
| University | Liberal Democrats | Mark lain Collinson | May 2024 |
| West Carr | Liberal Democrats | Tracey Neal | May 2024 |
Source: DCLEAPIL v1.0 by Jason Leman, LEAP (Andrew Teale) & Democracy Club. CC BY-SA 4.0. Data last refreshed: 1 Apr 2026.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2015 GEWon 2010 GE | Lab | 18,480 | 48.3% |
| Ref | 7,801 | 20.4% | |
| Con | 4,897 | 12.8% | |
| LD | 3,246 | 8.5% | |
| Green | 2,322 | 6.1% | |
| Ind | 720 | 1.9% | |
| Ind | 339 | 0.9% | |
| Ind | 262 | 0.7% | |
| Ind | 161 | 0.4% |
Diana Johnson has not appeared in national political news coverage tracked by our system. This is common for backbench MPs who focus on constituency-level work rather than national policy debates.
18 articles hidden as not sufficiently relevant to this constituency
The government has scrapped the two-child benefit cap, providing 480,000 families with three or more children an average annual boost of £4,100. Dame Diana Johnson, the local MP and Minister for Employment, announced the change alongside a £1 billion Crisis and Resilience Fund to help families build financial security.
The FA Cup trophy will be displayed at two Hull-area pubs this weekend—the Hallgate Tavern in Cottingham and The Apollo on Holderness Road—as part of a community tour. The Hallgate Tavern has recently undergone a £350,000 refurbishment to become a premium sports venue, and this trophy visit marks a celebration of that investment.
New statutory sick pay rules came into force this week, making SSP payable from day one of absence at £123.25 per week and expanding eligibility to more employees. The changes are part of the Employment Rights Act and aim to provide financial security for lower-paid workers and reduce workplace infection spread.
The Labour government has implemented three major Universal Credit changes this week: increasing the standard allowance (benefiting 3 million families by an average of £120/year), halving the health element for new claimants (protecting existing 2.8 million claimants), and scrapping the two-child benefit cap (benefiting 480,000 families with three or more children by an average of £4,100/year). Dame Diana Johnson, the local MP and Minister for Employment, publicly welcomed the scrapping of the two-child limit, stating it will provide greater security and opportunity for hundreds of thousands of children.
A McDonald's restaurant on Cottingham Road in Hull has reopened following a redesign and upgrade as part of McDonald's national reimaging programme. The project includes a modernised dining area, new layout, and updated front-counter technology to improve the customer experience.
The Government has appointed broadcaster Mariella Frostrup as the new Women's Employment Ambassador to support working women's health in the workplace, with a focus on menopause, endometriosis, and fibroids. Large businesses are being encouraged to publish voluntary action plans to support employees experiencing menopause symptoms, addressing a £1.7 billion annual loss from sickness and lost productivity.
Beverley resident Jenna Robinson, who has hidden disabilities including a stoma, has been nominated for a National Diversity Award for her advocacy work promoting awareness and better facilities for people with invisible disabilities. She is campaigning for better signage on disabled toilets and launching a local Stoma Support Group based in Cottingham.
The UK government has implemented landmark employment rights reforms on 6 April 2026, including immediate Statutory Sick Pay from day one of employment, day one paternity leave rights, and unpaid parental leave. Dame Diana Johnson, the Minister for Employment and MP for Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, is quoted endorsing these changes as supporting workers' health and wellbeing.
The Kings House in Cottingham, an Art Deco property built for King George V and Queen Mary in 1935, has come to market with offers invited between £1.3m and £1.45m. The restored five-bedroom home blends 1930s design with modern amenities and is located near Cottingham town centre.
New Employment Rights Act measures come into force today, giving 9.6 million workers stronger sick pay rights, including 1.2 million low-paid workers receiving statutory sick pay for the first time and all workers eligible from day one of illness. Dame Diana Johnson, the Employment Minister and MP for Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, has praised the changes as ensuring no one has to choose between health and earnings.
Paul 'Jacko' Jackson, the founder and operator of Hull's iconic New Adelphi Club music venue since 1984, has passed away after a short illness. The article celebrates his significant contribution to Hull's cultural and music scene, featuring tributes from the community about his role in promoting both local and international talent through the venue.
The UK Government has announced a successful pilot programme reducing NHS waiting lists for musculoskeletal conditions by 20%, helping thousands of patients access faster treatment through innovative digital tools and one-day clinics. The initiative, backed by £3.5 million from the Department for Work and Pensions, aims to support economic recovery by helping people with MSK issues return to work.
Jo Lorenz has been appointed Chair of the Orchard Park Pride in Place Community Board, which will oversee £20m in government funding over ten years for the area. Dame Diana Johnson MP participated in the selection panel and expressed enthusiasm for the scheme's potential to improve the neighbourhood through community-led initiatives.
Maya Boileau, a 16-year-old from near Cottingham, placed first runner-up at the Miss Teen Galaxy UK pageant and is using her platform to promote mental health awareness through her 'Beyond Anxiety' campaign. The local student is fundraising for mental health charity Mind while preparing for international competition.
New Government figures reveal that 29.1% of children in the North East are living in poverty, with 19 of 27 parliamentary constituencies exceeding 25% child poverty rates. Dame Diana Johnson, the local MP and a minister at the Department of Work and Pensions, highlighted Government measures including scrapping the two-child benefit limit and expanding free school meals as steps to lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2029/30.
UK poverty figures show 13.4 million people in poverty in 2024/25, including 4 million children, with working-age adults and pensioners seeing increases. Dame Diana Johnson, DWP minister and MP for Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, highlighted the Government's child poverty strategy and removal of the two-child benefit limit as key measures to lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty.
Elaine Pardoe, a senior sister at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, is retiring after 53 years of nursing. She has been a key figure in the plastics department, setting up the Plastics Trauma Unit, and is celebrated by her team for her dedication to patient care and staff support.
Employment Minister Dame Diana Johnson has stated the Government is considering moving responsibility for writing fit notes (sick notes) away from GPs, citing concerns that the current system is not functioning effectively and that non-clinicians could play a greater role in supporting people back to work. The article also discusses potential energy support being targeted at those on benefits, which Johnson suggests should be considered alongside work incentives.
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, has been rated the worst acute trust in England. Acting chief executive Lyn Simpson acknowledged patients deserve better but defended the trust's improvement plan, while MP Dame Diana Johnson called for better management and acknowledged her constituents deserve better.
The Daisy Appeal charity is launching a clinical trial of advanced PET scans using Gallium-68 to improve prostate cancer detection at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, enabled by a £9m molecular imaging research centre that opened in September. This facility is one of only a handful in the UK with a cyclotron and will eliminate the need for local patients to travel to London for similar scans.
Subscribe to unlock AI parliamentary agenda analysis: what's coming up, how it affects this constituency, and how your MP is likely to vote.
See plansSign up free to ask AI questions about Diana Johnson — 3 questions per month on the free tier.
Sign up freeMore constituency data is being added, including local issue analysis and historical trends. Learn about our methodology. View data sources & attribution.