Sarah Russell is the Labour MP for Congleton, having first been elected to parliament at the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 general election, Russell won 18,875 votes, representing 37.7% of the vote. The Conservative incumbent, Fiona Bruce, received 15,488 votes (30.9%), while the Reform UK candidate, Martin York, secured 8,245 votes (16.4%). Russell was duly elected with a majority of 3,387 votes.

The Congleton constituency is located in Cheshire, North West England. The constituency was represented by the Conservative Party from its creation in 1983 to 2024. Russell’s immediate predecessor, Fiona Bruce, held the seat from 2010 to 2024.

Political Career

Russell is a member of the House of Commons justice select committee (since October 2024) – the committee responsible for examining the policies and spending of the Ministry of Justice and associated public bodies. Its remit includes the courts, legal aid, prisons, probation and the rule of law. It also advises on sentencing guidelines.

In January 2026, Russell was one of over 60 Labour MPs to sign a letter to the prime minister calling for the introduction of an Australia-style ban on social media access for children under the age of 16. Organised by Plymouth Moor View MP Fred Thomas, the initiative brought together a cross-factional coalition of backbenchers – spanning the Socialist Campaign Group, Tribune Group and Blue Labour – to demand action.

The letter called on Keir Starmer to “show leadership” by introducing a minimum age for social media access “to protect young people from the consequences of unregulated, addictive social media platforms”.

It stated: “We are all strong supporters of technology, and of this Labour government’s ambition to use tech to improve lives. But successive governments have done far too little to protect young people from the consequences of unregulated, addictive social media platforms.”

Russell is listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for flexible and family-friendly working (chair), gardening and horticulture (chair), women and work (chair) and access to justice (chair).

Russell delivered her maiden speech on 17 October 2024 during a debate on the International Investment Summit.

In it, she said: “As a discrimination lawyer, and someone who went into politics because of the value that I place on equality and inclusion, I will continue to advocate for the rights and freedoms of all my constituents, and celebrate the diversity within our community.”

She added: “There is still a backdrop of fear attendant in many women’s daily lives. Women in my constituency have written or spoken to me about their experiences of sexual violence. I say to the young women who have talked to me – you know who you are – that I will fight for you, and all young people, in this place every day.”

Before entering parliament, Russell served as a Labour councillor on Manchester City Council (2014-2023).

Political views

Leadership elections

Labour deputy leadership 2025: Russell was one of 117 Labour MPs who nominated Lucy Powell for the party’s deputy leadership in September 2025. The election followed the resignation of Angela Rayner, who stepped down as deputy prime minister and deputy party leader after an investigation into her tax affairs. It marked the first time since 2007 that Labour had held a deputy leadership contest while in government.

Powell, the former leader of the House of Commons, was seen as a candidate representing the party’s “soft left”; she was supported by leading soft left figures including Ed Miliband and Andy Burnham. She secured 117 nominations from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), above the 80 required, and went on to win the election – defeating Bridget Phillipson with 54.3% of the vote.

Factional identity and party tradition

Usdaw: Russell is a member of the Usdaw Union Parliamentary Group – a group of MPs who are members of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) and work generally to represent the union’s interests within parliament.

Trade Union Group: Russell is a member of the Trade Union Group of Labour MPs executive. This long-standing group, founded in 1926, serves as a link between the Labour party and the trade union movement, aiming to ensure that the voices of working people and their unions are represented in parliament.

Living Standards Coalition: Russell is a member of the Living Standards Coalition. Established in July 2025, the group’s stated aim was to develop and promote policy ideas that directly reduce everyday costs for households, particularly in areas such as food, energy, housing and childcare. In an open letter published upon its founding, addressed to Keir Starmer, the MPs wrote: “Our constituents will ask one question at the next election: did this Labour government make me better off?”

They added: “To raise living standards, we support government interventions that will help to increase incomes and lower costs.”

Fabian: Russell has served as a member of the executive committee of the Fabian Society. The Fabian Society is a British socialist organisation, founded in 1884, the purpose of which is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist means. It is one of the oldest left-leaning think tanks and is affiliated with the Labour Party. Today, the society functions as a forum for political debate and policy development, publishing research, hosting events and influencing political discourse.

Electoral reform

Proportional representation bill: In December 2024, Russell 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.”

Welfare

Welfare vote (July 2025): Russell voted in favour of the government’s flagship welfare bill at second reading. The vote came after ministers agreed to significant concessions to avoid defeat via a mass rebellion of Labour MPs on 1 July 2025.

Assisted dying

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

Social values and conscience issues

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Russell 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.

Before Politics

Sarah Alison Russell studied politics at the University of York, graduating in 2004.

Russell subsequently completed a postgraduate qualification in law and the bar vocational course at BPP University.

Russell worked as a solicitor for many years before entering frontline politics.

Personal Life

Russell is married and has three children.

Trivia

Russell is the first Labour MP elected to represent the Congleton constituency in parliament.