Amanda Martin reached Parliament through Labour's education and trade-union movement. A former National Education Union president, she first contested Portsmouth North in 2019 and returned in 2024 to defeat the then Commons leader Penny Mordaunt. It was a significant gain but not a comfortable one: Martin won by only 780 votes, with 34.8 per cent of the vote.

She entered the Government's outer circle quickly. Martin became a parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Education in September 2025 and was moved to the Department for Transport after the 2026 change of government. A PPS has access to ministers and helps manage parliamentary relations, but does not control policy or a departmental budget.

Political character

Martin represents a recognisable trade-union Labour tradition: pro-worker, strongly attached to public services and comfortable using government intervention. Her record also has a practical law-and-order edge. Her best work has not been a broad education reform but a focused campaign on the theft of tradespeople's tools.

That campaign began with a ten-minute rule Bill in December 2024. Martin argued that sentencing based mainly on the value of stolen tools ignored lost work, vehicle repairs, psychological harm and the wider damage to a small business.

What she delivered

Martin did not get her own Bill enacted. Instead, she worked with ministers to have parts of its argument absorbed into the Government's wider Sentencing Bill.

The resulting legislation required courts to consider the fuller impact of offending — including lost livelihood and business disruption, not just the value of what was stolen. These measures were broader than tool theft, but Martin's campaign was credited with shaping how they applied to tradespeople.

The Bill received royal assent as the Sentencing Act 2026 on 22 January 2026. This is therefore a completed legislative result, not simply a petition or announcement. Credit must still be shared with ministers, campaigners and other MPs, while the practical effect will depend on how courts and probation services use the new powers.

Where she has fallen short

Martin has been vocal against Southern Water's performance, executive rewards and proposed bill increases. She submitted objections to Ofwat, but did not prevent a steep rise. Southern Water's average annual bill increased from £478 to £703 in 2025/26, a 47 per cent increase.

Her education background and former departmental position have also produced more access than identifiable personal delivery. School-building grants, SEND funding and national education programmes benefiting Portsmouth are government allocations. There is insufficient evidence that Martin designed them or secured Portsmouth's share herself.

Assessment

Martin has one of the clearer policy successes among Labour's 2024 intake. She chose a defined problem, built external support, introduced legislation and persuaded the Government to carry important elements into an Act.

She remains highly dependent on collective government action and has not yet shown the same influence over education, water regulation or major Portsmouth investment. The verdict is positive but limited: an effective campaigner capable of turning a narrow issue into legislation, not yet a proven departmental or city-wide political operator.