Councillor Murphy was elected to Manchester City Council in 1995, representing Brooklands in Wythenshawe.
She took up the position as Executive Member for Employment and Skills in 2007 a role which includes responsibility for economic development, enterprise and services to young people.
She has been a lead on women’s issues since 1997 and was an Executive (cabinet) member for Direct Services (street cleaning, catering, refuse collection) 1998 to 2003 and an Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources 2003 to 2007.
She is also a school governor at Brookway High School & Sandilands Primary School.
Her previous jobs include working for a newspaper in the advertising department and working for a member of the European Parliament.