Julie started her political career as a journalist before joining Parliament in 1997 as the MP for Bromsgrove. During her 13 years as a Member of Parliament she served as Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and as an influential backbencher on four high profile select committees. Previously, she worked as a researcher and current affairs producer for Yorkshire Television, the BBC and ITN, and later became political correspondent of the Daily Telegraph in 1992. She moved to the Sunday Telegraph in 1996 where she became social affairs editor, before leaving to stand for parliament.