SARAH MCCARTHY-FRY

'Sarah McCarthy-Fry' (born 4 February 1955, Portsmouth) is the Labour Co-operative Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North in the United Kingdom since the 2005 general election, when she replaced Syd Rapson.

Contents

Early life

Political career

Personal life

External links

News items

Early life

She was born Sarah Louise Macaree, the daughter of a defence worker of Scottish descent. Fry is the name of her first husband, McCarthy of her second. She went to Portsmouth High School (now an independent school, but a grammar school before the 1970s) on ''Kent Road'' in Southsea. She worked for the multi-national defence engineering company GKN Westland at Portsmouth, and most recently as financial controller for GKN Aerospace at Cowes, Isle of Wight. Her job has included spells working abroad in Germany and the United States. She qualified as a chartered accountant in 2004. She came to prominence in local politics leading a neighbourhood group, ''Ban the Burner'' successfully opposing a proposed incinerator. She was elected to Portsmouth City Council in 1994, chaired the environment committee, and was deputy leader for five years from 1995-2000, remaining with the council until 2002. She is a member of Amicus and of the Co-operative Party.

Political career

She tried to be selected for the seat in 1997, and later became Syd Rapson's campaign manager. Her main political interests are trade and industry, defence and the social economy. She campaigned in favour of identity cards after a constituency survey indicated a large majority in favour of them, and stressed her support in her maiden speech. She believes the challenge for the 21st century is for businesses to achieve greater productivity to maintain competitiveness, while giving their employees reduced working hours and a sensible work/life balance.
In 2006 Sarah was made PPS to John Healey, Financial Secretary to the Treasury. In Prime Minister Gordon Brown's cabinet reshuffle in 2007, Sarah was made PPS to Geoff Hoon, Chief Whip.

Personal life

She married her second husband Anthony McCarthy in 1997 and has two grown-up children, having them quite early in her life, and two step-children. She is a fan of The Who.

External links

★ Sarah McCarthy-Fry's website

★ They Work For You

★ Guardian biography

★ Voting record at the Public Whip

★ BBC Politics page

★ Meet the MP at the BBC

News items

★ Concern over Royal Navy ships

★ Upset over Boris Johnson