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| majority1 = 4,581 (9.2%)
| website = https://sarahsackman.com/
<!-- Personal -->| birth_date = {{birth<!---see year and age|1984|10}}[[WP:DOB]]--->
| birth_place = [[London]], England
| alma_mater = {{plain list|
* [[Queens' College, Cambridge]]
| relations = [[Solomon Seruya]] (grandfather)
}}
'''Sarah Rebecca Sackman''' (born October 1984) is a British [[barrister]] and [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] politician who has served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for [[Finchley and Golders Green (UK Parliament constituency)|Finchley and Golders Green]], and as the [[Solicitor General for England and Wales]] since [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]. She has gained prominence for her work in environmental and public law, as well as her political activities within the Labour Party.
She has gained prominence for her work in environmental and public law, as well as her political activities within the Labour Party.
== Early life and education ==
Sarah Rebecca Sackman's{{cn|date=November 2024}} was born and raised in [[East Finchley]], [[London]], England.<ref name="hamhigh.co.uk"/> Her father is a [[North London]] solicitor of [[Eastern Europe|Eastern European]] descent who moved to East London. Her mother's family moved from [[Tarragona]] in Spain,<ref name=":1" /> Italy, and Morocco to [[Gibraltar]], where they own a 150-year old perfumery.<ref name="Rose"/> Sarah's maternal grandfather was Gibraltar's former Minister for Economic Development and former independent MP in the Gibraltar Legislative Council [[Solomon Seruya]].<ref>{{cite web |title=UK's Solicitor General reminds Commons of her Gibraltarian roots in maiden speech |url=https://www.chronicle.gi/uks-solicitor-general-reminds-commons-of-her-gibraltarian-roots-in-maiden-speech/ |access-date=23 July 2024 }}</ref>
Sarah Rebecca Sackman was born in October 1984{{cn|date=September 2024}} and raised in [[East Finchley]]. She was privately educated at [[South Hampstead High School]],<ref name="hamhigh.co.uk">{{cite web |date=2 September 2013 |title=Lawyer Sarah Sackman to stand as Labour candidate for Finchley and Golders Green |url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/local-council/21379893.lawyer-sarah-sackman-stand-labour-candidate-finchley-golders-green/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Ham & High }}</ref> where she was head girl.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 April 2015 |title=Labour's Sarah Sackman tipped as 'most likely to become PM' at school |url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/21371551.labours-sarah-sackman-tipped-most-likely-become-pm-school/ |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=Ham & High }}</ref> SackmanShe then studied history at [[Queens' College, Cambridge]], where she graduated with a first-class [[Bachelor of arts|BA]] degree in 2006.<ref>[https://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/files/publicationFiles/the_record_2007ocr.pdf "Queens' College Record 2007"], p. 43. ''queens.cam.ac.uk.'' Retrieved 20 July 2024.</ref> She went on to obtain a Graduate Diploma in Law with distinction at [[City, University of London]] and an LLM from [[Harvard Law School]] specialising in cities, housing, local government, and poverty law.<ref>https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lselondon/challenges-of-participation-and-representation-in-urban-development-sarah-sackman-barrister-at-francis-taylor-building-lent-term-seminar/</ref>
== Legal career (2008–2024) ==
Sackman took a Scholarshipscholarship as a Judicialjudicial clerkship at the [[Supreme Court of Israel]] in [[Jerusalem]].<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Sarah Sackman |url=https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/member/sarah-sackman/ |website=Matrix Chambers}}</ref> She was [[Call to the bar|called to the bar]] at the [[Inner Temple]] in November 2008.<ref>{{cite web |last=Board |first=The Bar Standards |title=Barrister Details - Miss Sarah Rebecca Sackman |url=https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/barristers-register/F067146892DC654B7451281112E03ABF.html |access-date=30 July 2024 |website=www.barstandardsboard.org.uk}}</ref> From October 2008 Sackman worked as a Barristerbarrister and Housinghousing expert for Francis Taylor Building, a chambers specialising in planning law.<ref>{{cite web |title=[Home page] |url=https://www.ftbchambers.co.uk/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240705150041/https://www.ftbchambers.co.uk/ |archive-date=5 July 2024 |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Francis Taylor Building}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=31 July 2021 |title=Sarah Sackman {{!}} Barrister London {{!}} Francis Taylor Building |url=https://www.ftbchambers.co.uk/barristers/sarah-sackman |access-date=5 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731101254/https://www.ftbchambers.co.uk/barristers/sarah-sackman |archive-date=31 July 2021 }}</ref> Sackman took on Humanhuman Rightsrights training at the [[British Council]] in [[Yangon]], [[Burma]] in 2013.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Sarah Sackman |url=https://www.legal500.com/firms/9227-matrix-chambers/9227-london-england/lawyers/1943741-sarah-sackman/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Legal500}}</ref>
In 2017 The Markaz El Tathgheef el-Eslami group (MTE) bought [[Golders Green Hippodrome]] with the intention of converting it into an Islamic centre. There were a number of objections from residents who cited concerns such as parking and congestion but some opposed the move on the grounds of a Muslim centre being located in an area ([[Golders Green]]) with a large Jewish population.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sherwood |first=Harriet |date=6 November 2017 |title=Faith leaders condemn 'racist' objections to Golders Green mosque |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/06/hippodrome-golders-green-faith-leaders-condemn-racist-objections-mosque |access-date=4 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Sackman, acting for MTE, said it was hard to see how it had "not been treated differently to other religious groups who have previously used the building."<ref>{{cite web |last=Doherty |first=Rosa |title=Golders Green Islamic centre decision delay |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/golders-green-islamic-centre-decision-delay-kwnuc9te |access-date=4 July 2024 |website=The JC }}</ref> It is notable that inIn 2021 [[Hillsong Church]] purchased the venue.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sherwood |first=Harriet |date=21 October 2021 |title=Megachurch buys Golders Green Hippodrome after mosque plan blocked |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/21/church-buys-golders-green-hippodrome-after-mosque-plan-blocked |access-date=4 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
Sackman contributed a chapter to ''Community-Led Generation - A Toolkit for Residents and Planners'' by Pablo Sendra and Daniel Fitzpatrick on using the law to challenge redevelopment through courts. The book was published in 2020.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sendra |first1=Pablo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ukfmDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22sarah+sackman%22&pg=PR12 |title=Community-Led Generation: A Toolkit for Residents and Planners |last2=Fitzpatrick |first2=Daniel |date=15 April 2020 |publisher=UCL Press |isbn=978-1-78735-606-1 }}</ref>
Between September 2021 and 2024<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Sarah Sackman LinkedIn |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-sackman-8850b11a/ |website=LinkedIn}}</ref> Sackman worked as a barrister at [[Matrix Chambers]] along with [[Richard Hermer]] the current [[Attorney General for England and Wales]]<ref name="auto" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Richard Hermer KC |url=https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/member/richard-hermer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240708182742/https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/member/richard-hermer/ |archive-date=8 July 2024 |access-date=16 July 2024 |website=Matrix Chambers }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Harpin |first=Lee |date=6 July 2024 |title=Starmer appoints lawyer who opposed Gove's anti-BDS bill as Attorney General |url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/starmer-appoints-lawyer-who-opposed-goves-anti-bds-bill-as-attorney-general/ |access-date=16 July 2024 |website=Jewish News }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Fouzder2024-07-10T13:22:00+01:00Fouzder |first=Monidipa |title=Barrister-MP Sackman is solicitor general |url=https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/barrister-mp-sackman-is-solicitor-general/5120284.article |access-date=16 July 2024 |website=Law Gazette }}</ref> and worked on a number of cases mainly focused on Public and Environmental Law.<ref>{{cite web |title=British and Irish Legal Information Institute - Search results for Sarah Sackman |url=https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/lucy_search_1.cgi?results=200&sort=rank&query=(Sarah)%20AND%20(Sackman)&mask_path=/&highlight=1&method=boolean |access-date=12 July 2024 |website=British and Irish Legal Information Institute |type=Search results on cases from the Courts of the four jurisdictions of the United Kingdom and from the Courts of Ireland.}}</ref>
In 2022 Sackman worked on the Appellantappellant team in [[R (on the application of Coughlan) v Minister for the Cabinet Office]] against the Governmentgovernment trial of [[Voter identification laws#United Kingdom|voter ID]] arguing that it was unlawful to be made under [[Representation of the People Act 2000]].<ref>{{cite web |date=15 February 2022 |title=Supreme Court hears Voter ID challenge |url=https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/news/supreme-court-hears-voter-id-challenge/ |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=Matrix Chambers }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=R (on the application of Coughlan) (Appellant) v Minister for the Cabinet Office (Respondent) - The Supreme Court |url=https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2020-0129.html |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=The Supreme Court}}</ref> The appeal was dismissed on grounds that section 10 enabled pilot schemes under the condition that the government encouraged voting which it did where reduction in voter fraud increased voter confidence.<ref>{{cite web |title=JUDGMENT R (on the application of Coughlan) (Appellant) v Minister for the Cabinet Office (Respondent) |url=https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/docs/uksc-2020-0129-judgment.pdf |website=Supreme Court UK}}</ref>
== Early political career ==
=== 2015 General Election ===
In 2015 Sackman stood for the Labour Party in [[Finchley and Golders Green (UK Parliament constituency)|Finchley and Golders Green]]; she won the preliminary selection against Alon Or-Bach and Catherine Tuitt.<ref name="hamhigh.co.uk"/> She lost the election to the incumbent [[Mike Freer]] who won with a majority of 5,662 votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Election result for Finchley and Golders Green (Constituency) - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament |url=https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/3487/election/369 |access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref> Sackman was Vicevice-Chairchair of the [[Jewish Labour Movement]] between 2015 and 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last=Langlebe |first=Adam |date=3 February 2015 |title=JLM Elects New National Executive Committee |url=https://www.jewishlabour.uk/jlm_elects_new_national_executive_committee |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240716135939/https://www.jewishlabour.uk/jlm_elects_new_national_executive_committee |archive-date=16 July 2024 |access-date=16 July 2024 |website=The Jewish Labour Movement}}</ref> In 2016 Sackman gave a speech on 80th anniversary of [[Battle of Cable Street]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Sackman |first=Sarah |date=10 October 2016 |title=JLM Vice Chair Sarah Sackman's speech to the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street |url=https://www.jewishlabour.uk/jlm_vice_chair_sarah_sackman_s_speech_to_the_80th_anniversary_of_the_battle_of_cable_street |access-date=16 July 2024 |website=The Jewish Labour Movement |publisher=[[Jewish Labour Movement]] }}</ref>
=== 2024 Generalgeneral Electionelection ===
In 2024 Sackman stood again for the same constituency against Cllr Arjun Mittra and won the preliminary.<ref>{{cite web |last=Neame |first=Katie |date=12 October 2022 |title=Four make longlist for parliamentary selection in Finchley and Golders Green |url=https://labourlist.org/2022/10/four-make-longlist-for-parliamentary-selection-in-finchley-and-golders-green/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=LabourList }}</ref> Sackman stood on supporting economic growth, particularly in small businesses, cutting business rates for small businesses and freezing energy prices, investing in skills and giving grants to provide work for young unemployed. Putting more money into the NHS, a new system where care for the elderly. Get more police back on the streets.<ref>{{cite web |date=2 April 2015 |title=Sarah Sackman tells Parikiaki why she should be the next MP for Finchley & Golders Green {{!}} Parikiaki Cyprus and Cypriot News |url=https://www.parikiaki.com/2015/04/sarah-sackman-tells-parikiaki-why-she-should-be-the-next-mp-for-finchley-golders-green/ |access-date=5 July 2024 }}</ref> She holds that a Labour government would continue to regard British ties with Israel as important. But she said it must continue to advocate for a negotiated peace with the Palestinians, and for "democratic values".<ref name="Rose">{{cite web |last=Rose |first=David |title=Sir Keir's Jewish candidate for Finchley opens up about family life |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/sir-keirs-jewish-candidate-for-finchley-opens-up-about-family-life-bhszti04 |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=The JC }}</ref>
Sackman was backed by a number of Labour politicians, including [[Prime Minister]]s [[Gordon Brown]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Bell-Cross |first=Lorin |title=Former PM backs Labour's Sackman in Golders Green |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/politics/former-pm-backs-labours-sackman-in-golders-green-q12bj7bj |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=The JC }}</ref> [[Keir Starmer]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Harpin |first=Lee |date=7 June 2024 |title=Starmer: There has to be a 'safe and secure Israel' for Labour to recognise Palestine |url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/starmer-there-has-to-be-a-safe-and-secure-israel-for-labour-to-recognise-palestine-2/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Jewish News }}</ref> and [[Chancellor of the Exchequer|Chancellor]] [[Rachel Reeves]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Harpin |first=Lee |date=7 February 2023 |title=Rachel Reeves: My anger at Labour MP's 'fascist Israel' outburst |url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/rachel-reeves-my-anger-at-labour-mps-fascist-israel-outburst/ |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=Jewish News }}</ref> Sackman won the election with a majority of 4,581 votes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Finchley and Golders Green - General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001238 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=BBC News }}</ref> In her victory speech, which was held at [[Royal Air Force Museum London|Royal Air Force Museum]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Dunne |first=John |date=5 July 2024 |title=Labour wins Margaret Thatcher's former constituency from Tories |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/finchley-and-golders-green-labour-win-sarah-sackman-general-election-b1168896.html |access-date=12 July 2024 |website=Evening Standard}}</ref> Sackman said the community would "triumph over hate" in a campaign in which Labour's record on tackling anti-semitism came under the spotlight.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dunne |first=John |date=5 July 2024 |title=Labour wins Margaret Thatcher's former constituency from Tories |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/finchley-and-golders-green-labour-win-sarah-sackman-general-election-b1168896.html |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Evening Standard}}</ref> and that she would help to build: "A society where nurses aren't forced to visit foodbanks; where women and girls aren't afraid to walk home at night; where we act when we see the planet on fire, and where we welcome rather than demonise those, like my ancestors, who come to this country fleeing persecution."<ref>{{cite web |last=Floyd |first=David |date=5 July 2024 |title=Victorious Sarah Sackman says "changed Labour" is "beacon of hope" |url=https://barnetpost.co.uk/2024/07/05/victorious-sarah-sackman-says-changed-labour-is-beacon-of-hope/ |access-date=12 July 2024 |website=Barnet Post }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |others=Sarah Sackman Victory Speech following election to MP of [[Finchley and Golders Green (UK Parliament constituency)]] |title=Finchley And Golders Green: Labour's Sarah Sackman Wins - Evening Standard |url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x91k64k |access-date=12 July 2024 |author=[[Evening Standard]] |place=[[Royal Air Force Museum London]] |publication-date=5 July 2024 |via=[[Dailymotion]] |id=x91k64k}}</ref>
== Member of Parliament (2024–present) ==
She has gained prominence for her work in environmental and public law, as well as her political activities within the Labour Party.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/05/rising-stars-who-could-play-a-big-part-in-a-labour-government|title=Rising stars who could play a big part in a Labour government|first=Eleni|last=Courea|date=5 June 2024|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>
== Political Positionspositions ==
=== Assisted Dyingdying ===
Sackman published a letter to her constituents in October 2024 that she would support [[Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill]]. She said her central reason for supporting the bill was a respect for individual autonomy and was struck by that in dying we have no control. Quoting [[Jonathan Romain]] that the Bill is about shortening death - not shortening life, in her own wordwords "the right to choose is an expression of the liberty which is, in essence, what makes life so precious".<!--- That it addresses those who are taking their own lives already, that palliative care does have cases where there is intolerable pain, that in legal terms the law is unfit which doesn't address acts of compassion or protect people from coercion the latter the bill protects against with robust safeguards.---whose words are these?---><ref>{{Citation |last=Sackman |first=Sarah |title=English: A letter from Sarah Sackman to her constituents on her decision in how she will vote for the assisted dying bill |date=2024-11-28 |url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Sarah_Sackman_Assisted_Dying_Letter.pdf |access-date=2024-11-28}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
Sackman is a member of [[New North London Synagogue]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Rose |first=David |title='I'll be a strong Jewish voice in government pledges Labour's candidate for Golders Green |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/ill-be-a-strong-jewish-voice-in-government-pledges-labours-candidate-for-golders-green-pnk5a7sm |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=The JC }}</ref> She has two children and is married to a lawyer; they married in [[Bevis Marks Synagogue]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Sackman |first=Sarah |title=Sarah Sackman on X_ _I love Bevis Marks Synagogue. |url=https://x.com/sarahsackman/status/1788895650412740907}}</ref> Sackman served as a school governor for four years in a state primary in Camden and has also volunteered at [[Toynbee Hall]] Free Legal Advice Centre.<ref name="auto" />
Sackman served as a school governor for four years in a state primary in Camden and has also volunteered at [[Toynbee Hall]] Free Legal Advice Centre.<ref name="auto" />
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Solicitors general for England and Wales]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2024–present]]
[[Category:1984Year birthsof birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:People from Finchley]]
[[Category:Politicians from the London Borough of Barnet]]
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