Christine Russell


Christine Margaret Russell is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for the City of Chester from 1997 to 2010. She lost her seat to the Conservative Stephen Mosley at the 2010 General Election.

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, 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 1967–70, the University of Glasgow from 1970–1, and Dunbartonshire County Council from 1971–3. From 1989–94, she worked for some MEPs, then worked for MIND from 1994–7.

Parliamentary career

From 1992–1993, 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. She was elected as Member of Parliament in that election, unseating Gyles Brandreth. In Parliament she became Parliamentary Private Secretary to Beverley Hughes.
She had a majority of 915.
She lost in 2010 to Conservative Stephen Mosley.

Personal life

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