Olney, Sarah

Sarah Olney was elected as‌ ‌the Liberal Democrat MP‌ ‌for‌ Richmond Park in 2019 with a majority of 7,766.

Having won a 2016 by-election, she served briefly as this constituency’s MP between 2016 and the subsequent 2017 general election‌. Having lost to Zac Goldsmith back in 2017, she returned to defeat him again in 2019.

The Richmond Park constituency is found in one of the most affluent areas of south west London, and was formed out of the old Richmond and Barnes constituency. Found along the banks of the Thames where the University boat race is held every year, the seat has a very high proportion of professional and managerial workers. Once a Liberal – Conservative marginal that swung between the parties, some 71.3% of voters in this area backed Remain in the 2016 EU referendum. Turnout in this constituency in recent elections has been amongst in the country, at close to 80%.

Ms Olney is Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Business, Trade and Transport.

Born‌ ‌in 1977, Sarah Olney studied English Literature ‌at King’s College, London. She worked‌ ‌as‌ an accountant at Barclays, and was Finance Manager at the National Physics Laboratory, ‌before‌ ‌being‌ ‌elected‌ ‌to‌ Parliament.‌

During her time out of parliament between 2017 and 2019, she worked as Chief of Staff to Vince Cable.

Olney is regarded as being politically close to the Lib Dem leader Ed Davey. She has previously commented that, “Ed was the person who first persuaded me to put myself forward to be Parliamentary candidate in Richmond Park, and I owe him a great deal”.

Olney campaigns vociferously against Heathrow expansion. She was vigorously opposed to Brexit.

Sarah Olney MP is the Co Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Business Owners.

Email: sarah.olney.mp@parliament.uk

Website‌ ‌-‌ ‌ ‌ www.saraholney.com

Twitter‌ ‌-‌ ‌ ‌@sarahjolney1

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