Sarah Russell (politician)

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]

Sarah Russell MP
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament for Congleton
Incumbent
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

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.^{[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]

Personal life

Russell is married with three children and lives in Congleton.^[14]