Sarah Russell

Sarah Russell was elected Labour MP for Congleton on 4 July 2024 with 18,875 votes (37.7 per cent) and a majority of 3,387 (6.8 per cent), defeating Conservative Fiona Bruce. She is the first non Conservative MP ever to represent Congleton, a seat that had been Conservative since its creation.

An employment lawyer by profession, she read Politics at the University of York, took the Graduate Diploma in Law and Bar Vocational Course at BPP, and a Master of Laws at King's College London, training first for the Bar before cross qualifying as a solicitor while a paralegal at Pattinson and Brewer, specialising in employment law advising employees. She sits on the executive committee of the Fabian Society. She served nine years as a Manchester City Council councillor for Northenden (2014 to 2023), chairing the council's scrutiny committees, and was vice chair of the Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, improving tenants' access to good homes. She lives in the constituency.

In her maiden speech on 17 October 2024 she highlighted Jodrell Bank, SEND support, leasehold and fleecehold problems, NHS waiting lists, and what she calls the "motherhood penalty" of pregnancy and maternity discrimination, a theme connecting directly to her employment law specialism. She sits on the Justice Committee since October 2024 and has served on the Dogs (Protection of Livestock), Licensing Hours Extensions and Cyber Security and Resilience bill committees. Her APPGs include Access to Justice, Children, Maternity, and Flexible and Family Friendly Working. She has voted in 365 divisions with zero rebellions, and received a £3,000 campaign donation from the Musicians' Union.