Sarah McCarthy-Fry

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Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP
Sarah McCarthy-Fry
Member of Parliament
for Portsmouth North
Incumbent
Assumed office 
5 May 2005
Preceded by Syd Rapson
Born 4 February 1955 (1955-02-04) (age 53)
Portsmouth
Nationality British
Political party Labour Co-operative

Sarah McCarthy-Fry (born 4 February 1955, Portsmouth) is the Labour Co-operative Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North in the United Kingdom since the 2005 general election, when she replaced Syd Rapson.

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[edit] Early life

She was born Sarah Louise Macaree, the daughter of a defence worker of Scottish descent. Fry is the name of her first husband, McCarthy of her second. She went to Portsmouth High School (now an independent school, but a grammar school before the 1970s) in Southsea. She worked for the multi-national defence engineering company GKN Westland at Portsmouth, and most recently as financial controller for GKN Aerospace at Cowes, Isle of Wight. Her job has included spells working abroad in Germany and the United States. She qualified as a chartered accountant in 2004. She came to prominence in local politics leading a neighbourhood group, Ban the Burner successfully opposing a proposed incinerator. She was elected to Portsmouth City Council in 1994, chaired the environment committee, and was deputy leader for five years from 1995-2000, remaining with the council until 2002. She is a member of Amicus and of the Co-operative Party.

[edit] Political career

She tried to be selected for the seat in 1997, and later became Syd Rapson's campaign manager. Her main political interests are trade and industry, defence and the social economy. She campaigned in favour of identity cards after a constituency survey indicated a large majority in favour of them, and stressed her support in her maiden speech. She believes the challenge for the 21st century is for businesses to achieve greater productivity to maintain competitiveness, while giving their employees reduced working hours and a sensible work-life balance[citation needed].

In 2006 Sarah was made PPS to John Healey, Financial Secretary to the Treasury. In Prime Minister Gordon Brown's cabinet reshuffle in 2007, Sarah was made PPS to Geoff Hoon, Chief Whip.

[edit] Personal life

Sarah married her second husband Tony McCarthy in 1997 and they have four grown-up children. She is a fan of The Who, and her hobbies include tap-dancing, dog walking and amateur dramatics.


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[edit] News items

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Syd Rapson		 Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North
2005 – present		 Incumbent