A fuel pump includes a fuel pump housing with a pumping chamber; a pumping plunger which reciprocates within a plunger bore; and an inlet valve assembly. The inlet valve assembly includes a check valve member which is moveable between an unseated position which provides fluid communication between the pumping chamber and a fuel supply passage and a seated position which prevents fluid communication between the pumping chamber and the fuel supply passage; and a solenoid assembly which includes a wire winding; a pole piece; an armature which is moveable between a first position when the wire winding is not energized and a second position when the wire winding is energized; a return spring which biases the armature away from the pole piece; and a control rod which is moveable along the inlet valve axis independently of the armature.