Sarah Russell (politician)
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Sarah Russell | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament for Congleton | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Fiona Bruce |
| Majority | 3,387 (6.8%) |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Labour |
| Children | 3 |
Sarah Alison Russell[1] is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Congleton since 2024. She is the first non-Conservative politician to represent Congleton, having defeated the incumbent Conservative MP Fiona Bruce.[2][3]
Russell is a solicitor and a former councillor in Manchester.[4][5]
Russell studied politics at the University of York, graduating in 2004.[6] She then completed the Graduate Diploma in Law and Bar Vocational Course at BPP University, as well as a Master of Laws at King's College London.
While working as a paralegal at Pattinson & Brewer in London, she cross-qualified as a solicitor, developing a practice in employment law.[6] She then worked for several years at Slater & Gordon before moving to Fox Whitfield and Rebel Law Ltd to work as a consultant solicitor.[7][8]
Russell has also worked as a supervising solicitor at the Equality and Employment Law Centre.[7] She served as a trustee of Benchill Community Centre and was a school governor at Rackhouse Primary.[citation needed]
Political career
Between 2014 and 2023, Russell represented Northenden ward as a councillor on Manchester City Council.[citation needed] She served as chair of the council's Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee as well as vice-chair of the Wythenshawe Community Housing Group.[9]
In 2023 Russell was nominated as a possible Labour candidate for Crewe and Nantwich at the 2024 General Election, Russell was unsuccessful and Connor Naismith was selected as the prospective Labour candidate.[10][11]
Russell later became chair of the Congleton Labour Party.[12]
Ahead of the 2024 general election, Russell was selected as the prospective Labour candidate for Congleton.[5] She was elected as MP with 37.7% of the vote and a majority of 3,387 votes.[2] She overturned a majority of over 18,000 votes.[13]
She is a member of the Fabian Society's executive committee.[14]
