Editing Charlotte Atkins (section)

==Early life==
Atkins is the daughter of [[Ron Atkins]], the left wing former Labour MP for [[Preston North]], and the [[Records of members of parliament of the United Kingdom#Longest-lived MP|longest-lived British MP ever]]. Atkins was educated at the [[Colchester County High School]], and is a graduate of the [[London School of Economics]], gaining a [[BSc]] in Economics. From the University of London, she also gained an [[Master of Arts|MA]] in Area Studies. She worked as a community relations officer with the [[Luton]] Community Research Council from 1974 to 1976, before joining the trade union movement.

For four years she was a researcher with the [[Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians|UCATT union]] (from 1976 to 1980), then a researcher from 1980 to 1984 for the [[Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union|TASS and AUEW]], before becoming a press officer for [[UNISON]] and [[COHSE]] from 1984 to 1987.

Atkins joined the Labour Party in 1965. In 1982, she was elected as a councillor in the [[London Borough of Wandsworth]], and was the Deputy Leader of the Labour Group from 1983 to 1986. In 1981 she wrote a book with [[Chris Mullin (politician)|Chris Mullin]] entitled ''How to Select or Reselect Your MP''.