Sarah Olney
Sarah Olney | |
|---|---|
| File:Sarah Olney, Liberal Democrat candidate in Richmond Park by-election, pictured in Richmond Park.jpg | |
| Member of Parliament for Richmond Park | |
| Assumed office 1 December 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Zac Goldsmith |
| Majority | 1,872 (4.5%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1977 (age 46–47) |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Spouse | Ben |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | King's College London |
Sarah Jane Olney (born 1977) is a British Liberal Democrat politician and an accountant. She has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond Park since the Richmond Park by-election on 1 December 2016.
Early life and education
Sarah Jane Olney[1] was born in 1977.[2] She was educated at a comprehensive school in Surrey and then studied English Literature at King's College London.[3]
Early career
Olney is a qualified accountant.[4] She worked as an accountant at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington from February 2015 until she entered politics.[5]
Political career
Olney joined the Liberal Democrats in July 2015, soon after the general election.[5] She later said "I had never thought about being a politician. But I knew I was a liberal. When I saw what happened in the general election last year I felt I had to get involved."[6]
On 25 October 2016, Zac Goldsmith announced his resignation from the House of Commons over his objection to a third runway at Heathrow Airport, triggering a by-election.[7] Goldsmith stood in the by-election as an independent candidate. On 30 October 2016, Olney was announced as the Liberal Democrats' candidate.[8][9]
On 1 December 2016, Olney was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond Park.[10] She received 20,510 votes (49.6% of total votes), giving her a majority of 1,872 votes (4.5%).[6] She is the only female Liberal Democrat MP in the 2015–2020 parliament.
Views
Olney opposes the building of a third runway at Heathrow Airport.[11] On the topic of Brexit, Olney has indicated that she would vote against the triggering of Article 50 if a parliamentary vote were to take place.[10] She believes another referendum should be held once the exact terms of Britain's exit from the EU have been announced.[12]
Personal life
Olney has two children with her husband Ben,[8] a town planner who worked on Heathrow Terminal 5.[5] She is a Gilbert & Sullivan enthusiast.[5]
References
- ^ "Richmond Park by-election: Lib Dems' Sarah Olney defeats Zac Goldsmith". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ "Who is Sarah Olney? New Richmond Park MP who ousted Zac Goldsmith". The Sun. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ "Who is Sarah Olney, Richmond Park's new MP who ousted Zac Goldsmith?". Metro. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ Barney Henderson, Richmond Park by-election: Lib Dems' Sarah Olney defeats Zac Goldsmith in Brexit backlash, The Telegraph. 2 December 2016.
- ^ a b c d Joe Murphy, Lib Dem Sarah Olney: 'Beating Zac Goldsmith in the Richmond Park by-election would be a Brexit game-changer', London Evening Standard. 23 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Lib Dems oust Goldsmith in by-election". BBC News. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ "Zac Goldsmith to resign as Heathrow decision sparks Tory unrest". The Guardian. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Sarah Olney selected for Richmond Park". libdems.org.uk. Liberal Democrats. 30 October 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ Lib Dems' Sarah Olney to contest Richmond Park byelection, Press Association (30 October 2016).
- ^ a b "Lib Dem Sarah Olney beats Zac Goldsmith in Richmond Park by-election". Sky News. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ Gillett, Francesca (2 December 2016). "Who is Sarah Olney? What you need to know about the Liberal Democrat who ousted Zac Goldsmith from Richmond Park". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ "Lib Dem Sarah Olney will vote to 'override EU referendum' after shock victory in Richmond Park by-election", The Mirror, 2 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
External links
