Before entering Parliament Angela worked in the NHS, the banking sector and as a further education teacher specializing in helping youngsters who wanted a second chance to gain academic qualifications.

In 1999 she was elected to Sheffield Council and in 2005 was elected to Parliament for the constituency of Sheffield Hillsborough. In 2010 she was re-elected for the new seat of Penistone & Stocksbridge. A seat she held at the 2015 and 2017 general elections.

In 2005, Angela became PPS to Yvette Cooper and in 2010 became an Assistant Opposition. In 2011 she became Shadow Deputy Leader of the House, moving in April of 2014 to the Shadow DEFRA team as the Shadow Minister for Water, the Marine Environment, Fisheries and Animal Welfare. 

In September 2015 she stood down from the opposition front bench to concentrate on environmental issues on the EFRA Select Committee.  She is also a former member of the Transport Select Committee.

She is also Chair of the APPG Water Group, AGPAW and Chair of the APPG for the Chemical Industries.