About Sarah Carr

Sarah Carr is an enthusiastic and experienced local campaigner. Sarah, her husband Shaun and daughter Ella live in the heart of Hereford.

In 2006 Paul Keetch announced he would not be standing for parliament again. Sarah was selected as the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Hereford and South Herefordshire on 31 March 2007.

Sarah ran Paul Keetch's successful campaign to become Member of Parliament for Hereford in 1997.

A selection of Sarah's local recent campaigns in Herefordshire include keeping health services local, tackling crime, promoting affordable housing, promoting environmental sustainability, fighting for increased investment in Herefordshire tourism and campaigning against post office closures. Sarah is also the Liberal Democrat West Midlands spokesperson for environment, food and rural affairs.

Sarah Carr joined the Liberal Democrats in 1994 whilst at University. Sarah has a degree in Politics (2:1) and worked for the Liberal Democrats from 1995 until 1999. Following Paul Keetch's election, Sarah worked in the Liberal Democrat Whips' Office in the House of Lords where she advised the Liberal Democrat peers on legislation such as the Competition, Access to Justice and Asylum Acts.

Business Experience

Sarah has also gained significant business experience before becoming parliamentary candidate. Sarah has seven years senior level business experience working in the highly competitive telecoms and media sector. Sarah has been a company spokeswoman on numerous business and trade associations including being a regional CBI Council member.

Family Background

Sarah was born in 1974 into a family with a tradition of hard work and political activism. Sarah's mum was a farm secretary who witnessed the horrors of Foot and Mouth in the late 60s. Sarah's family have a long tradition of working in farming and having been brought up in the countryside, Sarah has a thorough understanding of rural issues and those of the farming community. Sarah's first word was 'tractor'!

Sarah met her husband Shaun when they were both working in Parliament. Shaun was the Liberal Democrat Senior Adviser on Environment and Transport. Shaun remains active in policy formulation for the Liberal Democrats. Shaun works in business strategy. Shaun is a keen cyclist. They have one daughter, Ella.

Values

Sarah joined the Liberal Democrats whilst studying the political philosophies behind the three main parties and after reading the 1992 general election manifestos. Sarah was strongly attracted to the Liberal Democrat philosophy upholding the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community.

Sarah is politically motivated by challenging social injustice believing in freedom and opportunity combined with responsible citizenship. Sarah considers herself fortunate to have never lacked personal ambition or self belief and wants every person to have the same chances that she has enjoyed. By being politically motivated Sarah hopes that she can inspire other people to fulfil their own potential and never feel held back by circumstance.

Other Interests and Memberships

Sarah enjoys socialising with a wide circle of friends, relaxes reading novels and tries to keep fit by swimming. Outside the Liberal Democrats, Sarah is a member of the National Trust, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Friends of Castle Green and Action Aid. Sarah is also a school governor in Hereford.