In September 2010, Winterton was nominated and elected unopposed as Labour Chief Whip and served in the post until October 2016.

[5] After working for four years in the private sector, as managing director of Connect Public Affairs, she returned to politics to assist John Prescott in 1994; Prescott had been elected as the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, and Winterton worked as Head of Office for the Deputy Party Leader until 1997.

[7] Winterton was subsequently appointed Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber in addition to her DfT responsibilities on 24 January 2008.

In September 2010, she was nominated and elected unopposed as Labour Chief Whip and served until October 2016, when she was replaced by Nick Brown.

[10] Winterton was one of a number of Government Ministers who secretly repaid back some of expenses money which they had wrongly claimed.

In the row over MPs' expenses, it was claimed she used taxpayers' cash to soundproof the bedroom of her south London flat.