Sarah Russell (politician)
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 | |
| Political party | Labour |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence(s) | Congleton, Cheshire, England |
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]
Early life and career
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 Masters of Law 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.
Political career
Between 2014 and 2023, Russell represented Northenden ward as a councillor on Manchester City Council. 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]
Personal life
Russell is married with three children and lives in Congleton.[14]
References
- ^ "Sarah Russell - Candidate for Congleton in UK Parliamentary general election". Democracy Club Candidates. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ a b "Congleton General Election 2024". Sky News. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Watterson, Kaleigh (5 July 2024). "Historic wins for Labour in Cheshire". BBC News. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Labour names election candidate". Congleton Chronicle. 21 March 2024. p. Front Page.
- ^ a b Watterson, Kaleigh (18 April 2024). "Congleton: Former city councillor to stand for Cheshire seat". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ a b "My legal life: Sarah Russell, Fox Whitfield". Law Gazette. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
- ^ a b "Sarah Alison Russell - The Law Society". solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
- ^ "Sarah Russell". Employment Lawyers in Manchester, Bristol, Southampton, Cheshire, North Yorkshire - Fox Whitfield. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
- ^ "One to watch – Sarah Russell, vice-chair, Wythenshawe Community Housing Group". Inside Housing. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
- ^ Parker, Ryan (13 June 2023). "Former Manchester councillor put forward as Crewe and Nantwich MP Labour candidate". Local News. Crewe Nub News. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
- ^ Watterson, Kaleigh (2023-07-03). "Labour select Connor Naismith as candidate for Crewe and Nantwich". BBC News. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
- ^ "Meet The Team". www.congletonlabourparty.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
- ^ Ryan, Blinda (5 July 2024). "Silence from defeated Tory as Labour overturn 18k majority in Congleton upset". CheshireLive. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
- ^ "Sarah Russell". www.congletonlabourparty.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-16.