Former villager to sit in the House of Lords
A former resident of Old Dalby is to sit in the House of Lords as one of five new Liberal Democrat peers.
Sarah Teather, who used to live in the village with her family, was nominated by party leader, Sir Ed Davey, for the prestigious role.
She served as an MP from 2003 to 2015 for Brent East (gaining the seat from Labour with a 29 per cent swing) and then Brent Central, including a period as Minister of State for Children and Families between 2010 and 2012, and went on to become a charity leader and NHS board member after leaving Parliament 10 years ago.
The Liberal Democrats said on their website: “Throughout her time in Parliament, Sarah gained a reputation as a formidable campaigner on social justice issues affecting her constituents, such as access to housing, revenge evictions and child poverty."
They added: “As a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords, Sarah hopes to create space for people excluded from decision-making to get their voices heard.
“She is passionate about encouraging stronger community relationships, dialogue and mutual understanding in an increasingly divided world.”
After deciding to stand down as an MP, Sarah became the UK Country Director for the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS).
She serves on the boards of Barts Health NHS Trust and Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and is just completing an interim role as chief executive of a national children’s charity that helps young people, families and schools to tackle bullying.
Mr Davey said Sarah was ‘a dedicated public servant’ and ‘has a proud record of delivering extra funding for millions of children from deprived backgrounds’.