Sara Britcliffe


Sara Alice Britcliffe is a British Conservative Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Hyndburn since the 2019 general election. At the age of 24, she was the youngest Conservative MP elected in the election, and the first to represent the constituency since 1992.

Early life

Britcliffe attended St Christopher's Church of England High School, Accrington. Her father, Peter, is the councillor for Oswaldtwistle ward on the Lancashire County Council. She has two older brothers. Her mother Gabrielle Kroger died in 2004 when she was nine years old. She studied modern languages at the University of Manchester. Britcliffe served in the ceremonial role of mayoress between 2017 and 2018 alongside her father who was the mayor on the Hyndburn Borough Council. He stood down from the council in 2018. She was elected as a councillor for the ward of St. Andrews in the 2018 Hyndburn Borough Council election. Prior to her political career, she managed a sandwich shop in Oswaldtwistle.

Parliamentary career

Britcliffe was selected as the Conservative candidate for Hyndburn constituency on 6 November 2019. Her father had previously contested the seat in the 1997 and 2001 general election. She was elected as MP for the constituency in the 2019 general election with a majority of 2,951. The seat had been represented by a Labour Party MP since the 1992 general election. At the age of 24, she was the youngest Conservative MP elected in the election.
On 23 December 2019, it was reported that, at a private party, Britcliffe had worn a T-shirt bearing the printed face of the previous Labour MP for Hyndburn Graham Jones. She was criticised for this, and responded by stating that it was part of a bet by two of her Labour-supporting friends, and apologised to Jones' partner for any offence caused. Her first overseas trip was to Pakistan as part of an all-party delegation in February 2020. Britcliffe has been a member of the Women and Equalities Committee since March 2020.
On 28 April 2020, Britcliffe became the first MP to deliver a maiden speech from outside the House of Commons after parliament adopted a system in which members could contribute to debates virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.