Sarah Olney was MP for Richmond Park 2016-17 and since 2019. Born in Surrey, she worked as an accountant before getting involved in politics, joining the Liberal Democrats after the 2015 election. She was selected to fight the Richmond Park by-election following the resignation of sitting Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith over his party’s support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. Olney won the by-election, defeating Goldsmith standing as an independent, by 1,872 votes. Her first stint in parliament was a short one and she lost out to Goldsmith – now back in the Tory fold – by 45 votes. While out of parliament Olney was appointed Chief of Staff to Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable. At the 2019 election Olney was re-elected, defeating Goldsmith by 7,776 votes and now speaks for the party on Business Trade and Transport.