Anna Sabine is the Liberal Democrat MP for Frome and East Somerset, having first been elected to parliament at the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 general election, Sabine won 16,580 votes, representing 35.5% of the vote. The Conservative candidate, Lucy Trimnell, received 11,165 votes (23.9%), while the Reform UK candidate, David Swain, secured 6,441 votes (13.8%). Sabine was duly elected with a majority of 5,415.

The Frome and East Somerset constituency, newly created ahead of the 2024 general election, is located in Somerset, South West England. The seat was formed primarily from parts of the former Somerton and Frome constituency (held by the Liberal Democrats following a 2023 by-election) and the North East Somerset constituency, which was represented by former Conservative cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg (2010-2024).

Political Career

Sabine currently serves on the Liberal Democrat frontbench as culture, media and sport spokesperson. She was appointed to this role in September 2025.

Sabine is also a member of the House of Commons standards and privileges committees (since October 2024). The standards committee oversees the rules of conduct for MPs and investigates alleged breaches. The remit of the privileges committee is to consider any matter referred to it that may amount to a contempt of parliament.

In 2025, Sabine stood for chair of the Liberal Democrat parliamentary party. She was defeated by Steff Aquarone, who secured the support of 44 colleagues. Sabine won 27 votes.

An i paper report suggested the election was seen as a proxy vote concerning Ed Davey’s leadership of the Liberal Democrats. Sabine stood for election while serving as Davey’s parliamentary private secretary (PPS).

Sabine is listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) for music education (co-chair) and digital communities.

Sabine delivered her maiden speech on 5 September during a debate on the Great British Energy Bill. In it, she described her constituency as “feisty” and “free spirited and forward thinking”.

She referenced her father, whom she described as an “ardent Lib Dem and a massive steam train enthusiast”, quipping: “I think he would have been delighted to see his new MP daughter being given a tour of the railway by the trust’s wonderful volunteers during its 150th birthday celebrations this summer.”

She added: “I am absolutely determined that in my time here I will always have one eye on ensuring that the young people of Frome and East Somerset are not made to feel that anywhere is out of their reach.”

“I want young people from all backgrounds in my constituency to know that the great institutions of this country, be they our universities, our scientific bodies, our civil service, our orchestras or indeed this place, are institutions where they are not only able to participate, but are actively welcomed.”

Political Views

The Liberal Democrats (or Lib Dems) are a liberal political party, occupying the centre to centre-left ground in British politics.

The preamble to the Lib Dem constitution begins: “The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.”

The Liberal Democrat autumn conference in 2021 ratified a policy paper entitled What Liberal Democrats Believe. The paper, an attempt to expand on the constitution’s preamble, was framed around seven “principles and values”.

The party’s core values were described as “liberty, equality, democracy, community, internationalism and environmentalism.”

Sabine is listed as a supporter of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for fair elections – a cross-party group of MPs and peers that campaigns for electoral reform. The group’s stated aims include replacing the first past the post (FPTP) voting system with a form of proportional representation, eliminating “dark money” and “undemocratic influence” from politics, and countering disinformation.

In May 2026, Sabine signed an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill, calling on the government to establish a “national commission on electoral reform”. Tabled by Alex Sobel as chair of the fair elections APPG, the amendment aimed to force a rethink of the first past the post voting system. At the time, Sobel described FPTP as “one of the biggest examples of a broken status quo in UK politics.” He invited colleagues to join this “common sense call to take a fresh look at how parliament is elected in modern Britain.”

In December 2024, Sabine voted in favour of the Elections (Proportional Representation) Bill – introduced by Liberal Democrat frontbencher Sarah Olney under the 10-minute rule procedure. The bill sought to “introduce a system of proportional representation for parliamentary elections and for local government elections in England”.

A total of 138 MPs supported the bill – with 136 opposed. Notably, 59 Labour MPs backed Olney’s bill.

Introducing the bill, Olney told the House: “First past the post is a broken and unfair system. This summer, the Labour party won a landslide election victory, securing 63% of seats in the House of Commons in return for just 34% of the vote.

“The system leaves millions of voices unheard and creates a divisive, adversarial political climate where collaboration is discouraged and accountability is often sidestepped.”

Brexit and Europe

Customs union vote (2025): In December 2025, Sabine voted in favour of the UK-EU Customs Union (Duty to Negotiate) Bill. The bill, introduced under the 10-minute rule procedure by Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton, sought to mandate the government to enter into negotiations with the European Union to establish a bespoke customs union. In total, 13 Labour MPs joined the Liberal Democrats in supporting the motion, while the majority of the party abstained.

Assisted dying

Sabine voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, better known as the assisted dying bill, at second reading (November 2024) and third reading (June 2025).

Social values and conscience issues

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Sabine voted in favour of a backbench amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that sought to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales in June 2025. The amendment, which was passed by a majority of 242 votes, removed women from the threat of prosecution for ending a pregnancy at any stage. As an issue of conscience, MPs were allowed to vote according to their personal beliefs.

Palestine

Palestinian recognition letter (July 2025): In July 2025, Sabine was among the over 254 MPs to sign a cross-party letter calling for the government to immediately recognise the state of Palestine. The letter called on the prime minister and foreign secretary to recognise Palestine at the UN Conference then taking place in New York.

Before Politics

Anna Elizabeth Sabine grew up in Bishopstoke, Hampshire. She attended a state comprehensive school in Hampshire.

Sabine studied philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE) at Wadham College, University of Oxford. She went on to hold roles in the business and the charity sector.

Personal Life

Sabine lives in Frome with her family. She has two children.

Trivia

Sabine’s great, great aunt, Helen Fraser, was a Scottish suffragist.

In her 2024 maiden speech, Sabine told the House: “I am technically not the first member of my family to be found on the parliamentary estate. My great, great aunt, Helen Fraser, was a Scottish suffragist and her picture is part of the display on the wall in the admissions office.

“In 1922, she was the first woman to stand for parliament in Scotland – of course she stood for the Liberal party – but sadly she did not make it to the chamber herself.”