Julie was born in Oxford and lived there until the age of 9 when her family moved to Leighton Buzzard. She attended The Cedars School before studying Chemistry at Nottingham University and then attaining a Diploma in Youth and Community Work at Manchester Polytechnic.

She has lived in Atherton for 24 years and, as a resident, she knows well the issues faced by the people in the Bolton West area, and the things that are important to them.

Julie has worked as a Youth Worker in Nottingham, St Helens and Wigan, the latter for 18 years, and is keen to improve youth facilities throughout the constituency.

She became President of the Community and Youth Workers Union in 1991, a post she held until 1999. Julie was a North West Learning Organiser for the NASUWT 2004-2006 and, before entering politics, worked as a Senior Regional Organiser for the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA).

Julie was elected Member of Parliament for Bolton West in May 2010. She is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Rail, Youth Affairs, Children, Community & Voluntary Sector, Save The Pub and High-Speed Rail.

In October 2010 she was appointed a PPS in Yvette Cooper's Women & Equalities team.