Christine Russell

Christine Margaret Russell (née Carr, born 25 March 1945) is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for the City of Chester from 1997 to 2010. She lost her seat to the Conservative Stephen Mosley at the 2010 general election.

Christine Russell
Member of Parliament
for City of Chester
In office
1 May 1997  12 April 2010
Preceded byGyles Brandreth
Succeeded byStephen Mosley
Personal details
Born (1945-03-25) 25 March 1945
Holbeach, Lincolnshire, England
NationalityBritish
Political partyLabour
ProfessionLibrarian

Early life

Russell was born at Holbeach, Lincolnshire, a farmer's daughter from South Holland. She was educated at the single-sex Spalding High School. She studied at the Polytechnic of North West London (became the University of North London), then went to the London School of Librarianship. She gained the Professional Librarianship Qualification. She worked as a librarian for the Borough of Camden from 1967 to 1970, the University of Glasgow from 1970 to 1971, and Dunbartonshire County Council from 1971 to 1973. From 1989 to 1994, she worked for some MEPs, then for MIND from 1994 to 1997.

Parliamentary career

From 1992 to 1993, Russell served as Sheriff of Chester.

She was one of three councillors for College Ward on Chester City Council, until she resigned after her victory at the 1997 general election. She was expected to be elected as Lord Mayor of Chester had she not been elected to parliament.

At the 1997 general election in an all-women shortlist as the Labour candidate for City of Chester.[1] She was elected as Member of Parliament in that election, unseating Gyles Brandreth. In Parliament she became Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Beverley Hughes.

She had a majority of 915.[2]

Russell lost her seat in 2010 to the Conservative Stephen Mosley.[3]

Personal life

She married Dr James Russell in 1971 in Hampstead. They have a son and daughter, and divorced in 1991.

References

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Gyles Brandreth
Member of Parliament for the City of Chester
19972010
Succeeded by
Stephen Mosley
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