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Hello and welcome to Wimbled Balls, where I Katie Balls talk to today's trailblazers.

Equally at home in a Swansea Social Club or the Commons Chamber, my guest today developed a reputation as a formidable and passionate

campaigner, from the Fair Funerals Campaign to the Menopause. After leaving school at age of 16,

she had no design on a career in politics, but after suffering personal tragedy, she stumbled

upon an advert for foundational courses at the local job centre and enrolled as a mature student

at Swansea University.

Her studies would lead her to the role of parliamentary assistance is Jan James,

who she succeeded as MP for Swansea Eastern 2015. Since entering politics, she has become the

first ever deputy leader of Welsh Labour, been appointed to Jeremy Corbyn's shadow team, and after co-chair and Kirstama's

leadership campaign, became parliamentary private secretary for the Labour leader.

However, these days she prefers the view from the backbench.

She said, for me to keep my mouth shut is an issue.

On the backbench, you're free to say what you think.

It suits me.

So with that, I'm delighted to introduce my guest today, Carolyn Harris.

Hello.

Now, Karen, on this podcast today, for which you're in the spectator building for the first time, good to make history.

We always ask people, how would you describe your childhood?

Was it a happy one?

Yeah, I was an only child.

My mother had lost a child before me,

...