HORNSEY and Wood Green MP Catherine West has reflected on her first few months in Parliament, Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and her new role as shadow foreign minister.

The Labour MP, who was elected in May, was promoted to the role earlier this month by new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Despite feeling slightly “daunted” having just been elected to Parliament, Ms West said her three years as leader of Islington council – from 2010 to 2013 – had given her “some preparedness for the challenges” of a shadow ministerial role.

She added: “I am looking forward to getting to know elements of my brief, and working with Hilary Benn. He is not only a very nice person, but a very experienced politician.”

Having worked with refugees during the Kosovo War in the 1990s, she said one of her main interests was the current refugee crisis engulfing Europe.

Another interest is China and human rights, Ms West having completed a masters degree in Chinese Studies, and speaking a bit of the language.

The Labour MP said: “I think the refugee crisis has really tested the commitment of some of our Eastern European partners, but I also think it has given us an opportunity to talk about what matters.

“We are not completely divorced from the Middle East. I do think we have to play our role.”

Ms West added: “I am interested in the European debate too. I think it is really important for jobs and the economy, and also for workplace rights. It is important we don’t lose sight of all that really good work. We haven’t seen war with our European partners since the Second World War."

Discussing Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership – having nominated and voted for him – she said: “I know him well. He is a man of huge integrity and commitment to social justice.

“Having not held a cabinet role before, it will be a learning curve for him. But it has sparked a lot of debate. He appears to be popular. A lot of people have joined in Hornsey and Wood Green.

“With all the new people, it has brought a kind of energy to it. It is refreshing. There really does feel to be a groundswell of opinion in Jeremy’s favour. This has really put Labour back on the map.”

She added: “I think his style of leadership is very different. It is about empowering individual MPs. It is about building up a movement that talks about fairness, social justice and peace.

“I think that does rely on MPs to be quite independent thinking in their own way. It does require more creativity.

“There are always internal squabbles, because we haven’t done it like this before, but what is important is we support all the people who have joined up.”

Reflecting on her first few months as an MP, Ms West said: “I have been having very busy advice surgeries. It is very busy, but it is always really good to meet people.

“I have enjoyed getting to know how the chamber works. When you get it right, it is very satisfying. Giving speeches in the mother of all parliaments is amazing. We have had such great debates.”

Ms West also said she was looking forward to this week’s Labour conference, where she will give speeches on devolution and human rights.