Sarah Olney

Sarah Olney
MP
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 38–39)
Political party Liberal Democrats
Spouse(s) 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

  1. ↑ "Richmond Park by-election: Lib Dems' Sarah Olney defeats Zac Goldsmith". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  2. ↑ "Who is Sarah Olney? New Richmond Park MP who ousted Zac Goldsmith". The Sun. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  3. ↑ "Who is Sarah Olney, Richmond Park's new MP who ousted Zac Goldsmith?". Metro. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  4. ↑ Barney Henderson, Richmond Park by-election: Lib Dems' Sarah Olney defeats Zac Goldsmith in Brexit backlash, The Telegraph. 2 December 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 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.
  6. 1 2 "Lib Dems oust Goldsmith in by-election". BBC News. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  7. ↑ "Zac Goldsmith to resign as Heathrow decision sparks Tory unrest". The Guardian. 2016-10-25. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  8. 1 2 "Sarah Olney selected for Richmond Park". libdems.org.uk. Liberal Democrats. 30 October 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  9. ↑ Lib Dems' Sarah Olney to contest Richmond Park byelection, Press Association (30 October 2016).
  10. 1 2 "Lib Dem Sarah Olney beats Zac Goldsmith in Richmond Park by-election". Sky News. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ Asthana, Anushka (2 December 2016). "Push for hard Brexit led to Richmond Park win, says new Lib Dem MP". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 3 December 2016.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sarah Olney.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Zac Goldsmith		 Member of Parliament
for Richmond Park
2016–present 		Incumbent
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