After being declared an MP in the early hours of Friday 5th July, Sarah thanked her predecessor, campaign team and Congleton voters. Sarah is MP for the Congleton constituency which includes Sandbach and Alsager. 

Sarah became the local MP as we revealed here after polling 18,875 votes to take the seat from Fiona Bruce with a result of 15,488. Fiona Bruce had held the seat since 2010.

She spent the weekend in the constituency, being interviewed for BBC North West Tonight and meeting members of Holmes Chapel Youth Council at the Holmes Chapel Village Fair, before heading to London. 

She has spent the week balancing Westminster commitments - swearing in and taking her place among Labour's 411 Members of Parliament as the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, set out the new Government's priorities and work so far. 

This was balanced alongside local concerns: giving an interview to BBC Radio Stoke, and meeting with fellow Cheshire MPs and the Chair of the Local Government Association to discuss devolution and the challenges in local government. 

Sarah Russell MP in the House of Commons. (Photo: Sarah Russell)

Sarah said: "It was an exciting week: there's a real sense of renewal and opportunity, alongside a strong emphasis on doing the right thing for the country. 

"Parliament's induction process has been an odd combination of the mundane - learning about policies and procedures and how to access my emails - and the more unusual, like attending the election of the Speaker in which he was dragged to his seat, as is traditional. 

"I was also allocated a cloakroom peg - which had a ribbon on it for me to hang up my sword! 

"I'm glad that we're already taking steps to make Britain a clean energy superpower. 

"I'm also particularly pleased that the Education Minister has restructured the Department of Education to focus on improving inclusion in mainstream schools for children with SEND: a particular priority of mine and of local parents. 

"I have also spoken to Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, about NHS dentistry this week. 

"I'm in the process of setting up my offices in Parliament and in the constituency so I can support people with casework and deliver on local priorities like cleaning up our rivers and reforming the leasehold system. 

"I appreciate residents' patience while I'm putting my staff team together. 

"As a candidate, I promised that I would be back on the doorstep within a fortnight if elected - so I'm pleased to say I was back out doorknocking again on Friday with Colin Storey, our excellent Labour candidate for the Sandbach Elworth town council by election. 

"I also went out and pulled up Himalayan Balsalm with the Trees for Congleton group at Congleton Hydro this weekend. 

"It's really important to me that I remain a visible community member. If there are events that you would like me to attend, please email [email protected]." 

More information about Sarah's work as your MP on Facebook here

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