Lab took this seat from Con after 4 consecutive elections.
Sarah Russell
Labour PartySarah Russell is the Labour MP for Congleton, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024.
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Sign up freeCoverage of Congleton has been mixed for Sarah across 40 recent articles.
Represented by Lab since 2024. Covers Congleton, Alsager and Sandbach. Population 89,610, notably older (median age 47 vs 41 nationally). Recorded crime is 49% below the national average.
Thousands raised in memory of dad-of-four who died in crash
chesterchronicle · 9 Apr 2026
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Sign up freeMedian Income▼
£28,700
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Mean Income▼
£41,300
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Businesses▼
3,975
VAT/PAYE registered (ONS 2024)
Schools▼
44
29 primary, 6 secondary, 9 other
Total Income Tax▼
£370m
from 51,000 taxpayers
Median Tax▼
£2,810
per taxpayer / year
Mean Tax
£7,270
per taxpayer / year
Source: HMRC Survey of Personal Incomes, tax year 2022-23. Allocated by taxpayer residence. Covers income tax only — excludes NI, VAT, and capital gains. Sample-based estimate (~8% confidence interval).
Attainment 8▼
48.0
average score (DfE)
GCSE Pass Rate▼
70.6%
5+ GCSEs 9-4 (DfE)
1 large town, 5 towns, 4 villages, rural areas — 89,611 total population
Source: ONS Built-Up Areas (Census 2021) + data.police.uk — crime rates are per 1,000 population (last 3 months)
Source: data.police.uk — street-level crime data aggregated from LSOA to constituency
18 councillors across 10 wards · Last elections: May 2023
| Ward | Party | Councillor | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alsager | Labour Party | Brian Thomas Drake | May 2023 |
| Liberal Democrats | Reg Kain | May 2023 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Rod Fletcher | May 2023 | |
| Brereton Rural | Conservative and Unionist Party | John Wray | May 2023 |
| Congleton East | Conservative and Unionist Party | Dave Brown | May 2023 |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Rob Moreton | May 2023 | |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Sally Anne Holland | May 2023 | |
| Congleton West | Conservative and Unionist Party | Emma Louise Hall | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | George Hayes | May 2023 | |
| Labour Party | Heather Seddon | May 2023 | |
| Dane Valley | Conservative and Unionist Party | Andrew Kolker | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Russell George Chadwick | May 2023 | |
| Odd Rode | Conservative and Unionist Party | Liz Wardlaw | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Patrick Redstone | May 2023 | |
| Sandbach Elworth | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Nicola Katie Cook | May 2023 |
| Sandbach Ettiley Heath Wheelock | Labour Party | Laura Elisabeth Crane | May 2023 |
| Sandbach Heath East | Labour Party | Sam Corcoran | May 2023 |
| Sandbach Town | Conservative and Unionist Party | Mike Muldoon | May 2023 |
Source: DCLEAPIL v1.0 by Jason Leman, LEAP (Andrew Teale) & Democracy Club. CC BY-SA 4.0. Data last refreshed: 1 Apr 2026.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lab | 18,875 | 37.7% | |
Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2015 GEWon 2010 GE | Con | 15,488 | 30.9% |
| Ref | 8,245 | 16.4% | |
| LD | 2,785 | 5.6% | |
| Ind | 2,181 | 4.3% | |
| Green | 2,007 | 4.0% | |
| Ind | 544 | 1.1% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2017 GEWon 2015 GEWon 2010 GE | Con | 33,747 | 59.0% |
| Lab | 15,186 | 26.5% | |
| LD | 6,026 | 10.5% | |
| Green | 1,616 | 2.8% | |
| Ind | 658 | 1.1% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2015 GEWon 2010 GE | Con | 31,830 | 56.6% |
| Lab | 19,211 | 34.2% | |
| LD | 2,902 | 5.2% | |
| Ind | 1,289 | 2.3% | |
| Green | 999 | 1.8% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2010 GE | Con | 27,164 | 53.3% |
| Lab | 10,391 | 20.4% | |
| Ind | 6,922 | 13.6% | |
| LD | 4,623 | 9.1% | |
| Green | 1,876 | 3.7% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | Con | 23,250 | 45.8% |
| LD | 16,187 | 31.9% | |
| Lab | 8,747 | 17.2% | |
| Ind | 2,147 | 4.2% | |
| Ind | 276 | 0.5% | |
| Ind | 94 | 0.2% | |
| Ind | 79 | 0.2% |
Sarah Russell has not appeared in national political news coverage tracked by our system. This is common for backbench MPs who focus on constituency-level work rather than national policy debates.
10 articles hidden as not sufficiently relevant to this constituency
A 34-year-old father of four from Crewe, Kerie O'Driscoll, died in a motorcycle collision on Middlewich Road on Easter Monday. A community fundraising appeal has been launched to support his bereaved family, with local motorcycle groups paying tribute.
A 34-year-old father of four from the Crewe area died in a motorbike collision with a Range Rover in Woolstanwood, Cheshire. His family has paid tribute to him as a devoted father, and local biker groups are organising a memorial event.
A local photography club feature showcasing spring photographs submitted by members from various locations across the Congleton area, including Rudheath, Holmes Chapel, Wincham, and Marbury. The article highlights the Guardian Camera Club's weekly themed challenges and community engagement.
A 34-year-old motorcyclist from the Crewe area was killed in a collision with a Range Rover on Middlewich Road. The incident occurred on Monday evening, and police are appealing for witnesses to help establish the circumstances of the crash.
Keira Barry, a 20-year-old footballer born in Congleton, has been called up to the England Lionesses squad for the first time ahead of 2027 World Cup qualifiers. Barry progressed through Manchester United's academy before moving to Bay FC in the US, where she has made a promising start to her career.
A local biker group, Rebel Ryderz, is holding a tribute event at Radway Green Sports and Social Club in Alsager for motorcyclist Kerie O'Donnell who died in a crash on Easter Monday. The bike night on 8 April will be dedicated to the deceased rider.
A 34-year-old Nantwich father of four, Kerie O'Donnell, was killed in a motorcycle collision on the A530 near Wistaston on Easter Monday. The article features tributes from family, friends, and his motorcycle club, highlighting his role as a devoted father and community member, while Cheshire Police appeal for witnesses to the incident.
An 11-year-old girl from Congleton underwent successful heart valve repair surgery at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle after being transported by air ambulance. Her parents praised the medical teams and air ambulance service for the rapid, life-saving treatment that enabled her recovery.
An 11-year-old girl from Congleton, Verity Nuttall, received life-saving heart surgery after being rapidly transferred via air ambulance from Alder Hey to Freeman Hospital. The article highlights how the National Children's Air Ambulance service enabled her urgent specialist treatment and subsequent full recovery, allowing her to return to her passion for performing arts.
Verity Nuttall, an 11-year-old from Congleton, received life-saving heart surgery after the National Children's Air Ambulance transferred her from Liverpool to Newcastle in 48 minutes, significantly reducing travel time. She has since recovered well and returned to her passion for performing arts, with her family expressing deep gratitude for the service.
Firefighters responded to a vehicle engine fire on Lawton Road in Alsager on 2 April. The fire was already out on arrival and was safely extinguished with minimal intervention.
A fire broke out on a disused narrowboat on the Trent and Mersey Canal near Church Lawton in Congleton last night, requiring emergency response from fire crews in Alsager and Nantwich. One person required medical attention, and the fire was extinguished using standard firefighting procedures.
A Congleton schoolgirl, Verity Nuttall, required urgent heart surgery and was airlifted by the National Children's Air Ambulance from Liverpool to Newcastle in 48 minutes, a journey that saved five hours compared to road transport. The rapid transfer enabled her to receive specialist surgery at Freeman Hospital, and she has since made a full recovery and returned to school and dance activities.
Bespak, a pharmaceutical firm in Holmes Chapel making sustainable inhalers, is the first business showcased under Cheshire East Council's new 'Made in Cheshire East' initiative to promote local economic growth and innovation. The programme aims to highlight businesses across the borough and connect them with support, investment opportunities, and regional devolution benefits.
A barn fire on School Lane in Smallwood has caused partial blockages on Congleton Road, with five fire engines responding to the incident. The fire was reported at 1.40pm and is affecting traffic in both directions in the area.
Emergency services responded to a potential gas leak at a premises on London Road in Congleton on 5 April. One person was assessed by paramedics; the gas supply had been made safe before arrival and fire service monitoring confirmed safety.
Cheshire East Council has rejected plans for 22 affordable homes on Broadhurst Lane in Congleton, primarily due to highway safety concerns. The single-track access road onto the A34 would create dangerous traffic conflicts with existing business use at Dane Mill, with the council's highways officer warning of additional reversing manoeuvres and potential queuing onto the busy bypass.
Cheshire East Council has granted 'permission in principle' for four self-build homes on land near a natural burial site in Shavington, within the Congleton constituency area. The decision was driven by the council's lack of a five-year housing land supply, which overrides other planning policy concerns despite objections about loss of green gap and the sensitive location.
Cheshire East councillors have granted permission in principle for four self-build homes next to a natural burial site at Shavington. The decision was driven by the council's lack of a five-year housing land supply, which overrides green gap and environmental concerns, though concerns were raised about the impact on the sensitive location.
Cheshire East Council has launched a 'Made in Cheshire East' campaign to celebrate and promote local businesses across the borough, with visits from senior council representatives to highlight achievements and contributions. The initiative aims to showcase businesses of all sizes and sectors, starting with Holmes Chapel-based pharmaceutical manufacturer Bespak, and will promote the region as a place for business growth and investment.
Knutsford Leisure Centre successfully launched a Les Mills BODYCOMBAT martial arts-inspired fitness session in March with around 100 participants, receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback. The centre plans to make similar group exercise events a regular feature to promote community health and wellbeing.
Plus Dane Housing, a Liverpool-based social landlord operating 13,500 homes across Cheshire and Merseyside including in Congleton's region, has secured a new £60m five-year loan facility with HSBC UK. This financing deal supports the organisation's investment in existing homes and development targets through 2027.
A serious car crash on the M6 southbound in Cheshire between junctions 18 and 19 (near Knutsford, Middlewich and Holmes Chapel) resulted in a vehicle overturning and partially entering a brook. Emergency services successfully rescued the casualty, though the motorway closure and complex recovery operations caused significant traffic disruption.
Marks and Spencer is closing 14 in-store cafés in 2026, including the café at the Congleton store on Barn Road, to make space for expanded product ranges. The company says the closure will improve the shopping experience, though it represents a loss of a local amenity that offered discounts for seniors and families.
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