Sarah Olney’s record in Parliament
Liberal Democrat · MP for Richmond Park, the seat covering Barnes · email your MP
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Business)
What your MP has actually voted for, said in the Commons and asked ministers about, topic by topic. We don’t tell you what they think — we show you what they did, with a link to the official record on every line, so you can read it yourself.
MPs miss votes for many reasons — ministerial or shadow duties, select committees, constituency business, illness, or an agreed pairing with an MP from another party. A percentage on its own doesn’t tell you which.
Has said “Barnes” in the Commons 19 times.
“That means that for seven years buses have not been able to cross the bridge; emergency ambulance journeys from Barnes, in my constituency, to Charing Cross hospital, on the northern bank of the Thames, have taken significantly longer; and local businesses and families have suffered. Since 2019,…”
What they work on most
- Housing14
- Cost of living12
- Transport11
- Small business11
How many times they have spoken or asked a minister about each topic in the record below. It shows where their time goes — not what they think about it.
Motions they’ve tabled
An Early Day Motion is a formal statement an MP writes and puts before the House for other members to sign. Unlike a vote, the words are the MP’s own. These are from the current Parliament.
- Proportional Representation for UK Elections
That this House celebrates the hard work of candidates who stood for election on 7th May; congratulates those who succeeded in their bid for election; notes that the representation of parties on Councils across the UK does not reflect the vote share each party will have received; recognises that these results reflect the end of a two-party political system in the UK; acknowledges that the first-past-the-post system is no longer fit for purpose and only marginalises people’s votes; recognises that a proportional voting system would provide voters with more choice and would enable Councils and Parliament to be more representative of the share of votes; highlights that the Liberal Democrats won all 54 seats for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames with 51% of the vote, while Reform UK won 71% of the seats for the London Borough of Havering with just 37% of the vote; and calls for a proportional voting system to be introduced to recognise multi-party politics in the UK and to make each person’s vote count.
Tabled 13 May 2026 · signed by 33 MPs
- Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday
That this House wishes Richmond Park resident, Sir David Attenborough, a very happy 100th birthday, and commends his advocacy for the natural world, conservation and biodiversity; recognises his contribution to broadcasting and consequentially to communities around the world, who have enjoyed his programmes, encouraging insightful knowledge and engagement with nature and the environment; acknowledges his remarkable contribution to ecological research; pays tribute to his role in inspiring current and future generations to understand and protect the natural world; thanks him for his longstanding contributions to British life and public service particularly within Richmond Park; and wishes him many happy returns.
Tabled 28 April 2026 · signed by 23 MPs
- Victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack
That this House remembers the 26 innocent civilians who were killed during the Pahalgam terrorist attack on 22 April last year; recognises that the tourists who lost their lives were singled out because of their Hindu beliefs; mourns the tragic loss that the victims families have suffered; demands that the terrorists who committed the attacks are brought to justice for this atrocity; condemns the use of violence in all cases; acknowledges the devastating impact of religious persecution on people across the world; includes the UK in this acknowledgement following the rise of hate crimes in this country; commits to doing everything in its power to reduce the prevalence of religious hatred at home and abroad; and devotes this date in memory to those who lost their lives in the Pahalgam attacks.
Tabled 22 April 2026 · signed by 16 MPs
- Royal Mail's performance
That this House notes with serious concern the ongoing failures in Royal Mail's delivery performance, including credible reports of post being batched over periods of one to two weeks rather than delivered on a daily basis, in breach of its statutory obligations under the Universal Service Obligation; recognises the particular harm caused to rural and remote communities, and to those who depend on timely post for hospital and GP appointment letters, benefit correspondence, bills and legal documents, with delayed delivery risking missed medical appointments, financial penalties and poorer health outcomes; highlights that Royal Mail has repeatedly failed to meet Ofcom targets while consumers face rising stamp prices and declining service quality; pays tribute to postal workers who continue to serve their communities under significant operational pressure; further notes evidence that staffing shortages, changes to operational models and the prioritisation of parcels over letters are contributing to these service failures; calls on the Government and Ofcom to take urgent action to hold Royal Mail fully accountable for persistent delivery failures; and further calls on the Government to guarantee that local postal services and jobs will be protected and that equality of service is maintained across all regions and nations of the United Kingdom.
Tabled 26 March 2026 · signed by 29 MPs
- Public health campaign on tackling stigma towards suicide
That this House highlights, on Blue Monday, that every life lost to suicide is a tragedy; recognises the importance of breaking down barriers surrounding the stigma towards the topic of suicide; understands the importance of opening up conversations on the issue; further acknowledges that many people do not feel comfortable reaching out to those who they believe to be struggling with suicidal thoughts; underlines that further education on mental health is important to embolden discussions about suicide; underscores that more needs to be done to make people struggling to feel comfortable reaching out to friends, families and medical professionals for help; and calls on the Government to launch a national public health campaign to tackle the stigma towards talking about mental health struggles, as suicide is preventable, and lives can be saved.
Tabled 19 January 2026 · signed by 51 MPs
- Police front counter closures
That this House commends the brilliant service our local police officers provide; recognises the importance of police front counters to victims of crime; notes that closing nearly half of London’s counters will decrease the accessibility of officers to communities; understands that these cuts will disproportionately impact elderly and disabled people; acknowledges that Richmond Borough will be left without an open front counter following numerous cuts to our policing resources over the past decade; further recognises that front counters are important to the visibility and trust of policing in communities; and urges the Government to address the funding shortfall for the Metropolitan Police to prevent these cuts from being made.
Tabled 1 September 2025 · signed by 14 MPs
Housing
Building, renting and homelessness
How they voted
- AYESocial Housing (Regulation) Bill [Lords] Report Stage: Amendment 40 · 1 March 2023
- AYESocial Housing (Regulation) Bill [Lords] Report Stage: Amendment 42 · 1 March 2023
- AYESocial Housing (Regulation) Bill [Lords] Report Stage: New Clause 7 · 1 March 2023
In their own words
“Over the past two years, construction of new builds has fallen by 85% for affordable homes and 94% for council housing, and delays in the Building Safety Regulator’s approval processes are stalling development projects, curtailing investment and losing people their jobs. Does the Minister agree…”
“During a housing crisis, we should be freeing up housing for reliable tenants. Does the Minister recognise that lengthy court delays are stifling the rental market?”
5 contributions mention “housing” — read them all on Hansard.
Questions they tabled
- Housing: Access · 29 August 2025
- Housing: Access · 29 August 2025
- Housing: Access · 29 August 2025
Rivers and sewage
The Thames, water quality and discharges
How they voted
- NOOpposition Day: Sewage: Government amendment · 23 April 2025
- AYEOpposition Day: Sewage: Lib Dem motion · 23 April 2025
- NOOpposition Day: Water quality (sewage discharge): Prime Minister's amendment · 25 April 2023
In their own words
“We all looked on in horror at the viral images of beaches in Sussex being destroyed by disgusting sewage overflows. I have heard that businesses in the area that are very reliant on income from tourists—from beachside cafés in Seaford to tourist hotspots in Eastbourne—have lost money because…”
“What steps he is taking to help ensure sewage is not discharged into UK waterways.”
7 contributions mention “sewage” — read them all on Hansard.
Transport
Rail, buses, roads and cycling
How they voted
In their own words
“In the lead-up to the 2019 general election, the then Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, said about the bridge: “The next Conservative Government will not allow this just to remain closed.” I imagine that that comment was made with the intention of supporting the Conservative…”
“Often those services act as a lifeline, especially for the elderly, as we have heard so many times today, and for those with limited transport options or in areas without reliable access to online services. Currently, 99.7% of the population live within three miles of a post office and 4,000…”
7 contributions mention “transport” — read them all on Hansard.
Questions they tabled
- Transport: Infrastructure · 4 March 2026
- Transport: Infrastructure · 4 March 2026
- Transport for London: Finance · 4 February 2026
NHS and health
Hospitals, GPs and social care
How they voted
- AYEOpposition Day: NHS Dentistry · 9 January 2024
- AYEOpposition Day: Expanding the NHS workforce · 28 February 2023
- AYEOpposition day: NHS: Long-term strategy · 11 January 2023
- AYEOpposition Day: NHS Workforce · 6 December 2022
Showing 4 of 9 divisions matching “NHS”.
In their own words
“He is a real champion for the NHS, and it is a benefit to all of us that he brings his former experience as a GP to bear in this debate. The NHS has more contact with people experiencing domestic abuse than any other service and, therefore, it is vitally important that staff feel adequately…”
“The Liberal Democrats believe that investing in prevention through public health initiatives is the most effective way to enhance wellbeing and reduce the burden on NHS services, so we support the introduction of a national accident prevention strategy, as advocated by the Royal Society for the…”
7 contributions mention “NHS” — read them all on Hansard.
Schools
Education and childcare
How they voted
- AYEDraft Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 (Establishment of Schools) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026 · 8 July 2026
- NOChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to insist on Amendment 38J and disagree with Lords Amendments 38V to 38X · 22 April 2026
- NOChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 106 · 9 March 2026
- NOChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 102 · 9 March 2026
Showing 4 of 30 divisions matching “schools”.
In their own words
“We do not support treating independent schools differently to other independent education providers for VAT purposes. VAT is a complicated tax with many quirks and exemptions. Goods and services that are outwardly similar can be given different tax treatments based on the smallest of variations and…”
“The hon. Member makes an important point about academia at schools and universities; that is another big risk factor for young people. They feel the real pressure of academic studies and exam results, so schools and universities also have a role to play in reducing stigma and encouraging those…”
5 contributions mention “schools” — read them all on Hansard.
Policing and crime
Police numbers, safety and courts
How they voted
- NOCrime and Policing Bill: Amendments (a) to (b) in lieu of Lords Amendments 359 and 439 · 20 April 2026
- NOCrime and Policing Bill: Amendments (a) and (b) in lieu of Lords Amendment 342 · 20 April 2026
- AYECrime and Policing Bill Report Stage: New Clause 130 · 18 June 2025
- AYECrime and Policing Bill Report Stage: New Clause 88 · 18 June 2025
Showing 4 of 16 divisions matching “policing”.
In their own words
“Those three relatively safe suburban boroughs, however, share the command unit with Wandsworth, with all the complexities and additional demands on policing that an inner-city borough represents. The resources of the south west command unit are therefore frequently skewed towards one borough, with…”
“The Liberal Democrats were supportive of the measures included in the recent Crime and Policing Act 2026, which introduced the specific recording of offences of assault against retail workers. After years of increasing violence and abuse experienced by those working in retail and other frontline…”
7 contributions mention “policing” — read them all on Hansard.
Cost of living
Bills, benefits and wages
How they voted
- AYEOpposition Day: Increases in the cost of living · 24 January 2022
In their own words
“7 million households have no mobile or broadband internet at home, and around 1 million people have cut back or cancelled internet packages in the past year, as cost of living challenges have forced people to find ways to cut and save. As we live in an increasingly digital world, the lack of access…”
“Ensuring that people and businesses can leave behind the series of economic challenges that began with the pandemic—including the energy crisis, the rising cost of living and the growing tax burden—and remain resilient is essential to our long-term economic and social wellbeing. The Government need…”
12 contributions mention “cost of living” — read them all on Hansard.
Planning and development
What gets built, and where
How they voted
- NODraft Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026 · 8 July 2026
- NOPlanning and Infrastructure Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 40 · 13 November 2025
- NOPlanning and Infrastructure Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 39 · 13 November 2025
- NOPlanning and Infrastructure Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 38 · 13 November 2025
Showing 4 of 21 divisions matching “planning”.
In their own words
“That does not facilitate stability and certainty for business or workers, and it precludes long-term planning. That will particularly impact small businesses, start-up businesses and those businesses looking to grow. That is why we are supportive of, for example, the amendment that sets the…”
Climate and environment
Emissions, air quality and green space
How they voted
- AYEDraft Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2026 · 24 June 2026
- AYEDraft Climate Change Act 2008 (International Aviation and International Shipping) Regulations 2026 · 24 June 2026
- NODraft Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2021 · 16 June 2021
In their own words
“On the environmental argument, it should almost go without saying that adding nearly 300,000 extra flights to our skies each year will have a profound impact on air pollution and climate change. This Government have used wishful thinking in their assertions that sustainable aviation fuel will…”
“If we are to take tackling climate change seriously, businesses must play their part. That is why the Liberal Democrats would require all large companies listed on UK stock exchanges to set targets consistent with achieving the net zero goal and to report on their progress. We would reform the…”
3 contributions mention “climate” — read them all on Hansard.
Small business
High streets and the self-employed
How they voted
- AYEOpposition day: Supporting small business · 19 October 2021
In their own words
“The appalling agreement negotiated by the Conservative party has been a complete disaster for our country, and particularly for small businesses, which are held back by reams of red tape and new barriers to trade. An astonishing 16,000 firms have stopped all exports to the EU as a result. While the…”
“Small businesses also struggle to secure fair financing and receive only a small fraction of bank lending. This has created a multibillion-pound financing gap that stifles economic growth, particularly in underserved regions outside London and the south-east, as well as within marginalised…”
11 contributions mention “small business” — read them all on Hansard.
Take it further
- Write to OlneyYour MP, on anything Parliament decides
- Their websiteSurgery times and contact details
- Richmond upon Thames CouncilBins, parking, council tax, planning
- Report a problemPotholes, fly-tipping, street lights
- FixMyStreetReport it publicly, on a map
How this page works
Everything here comes from Parliament’s own published data: the Commons votes register, Hansard and the written questions service. For each topic we search the record for a key term and show the most recent results, along with how many we found in total so you can see what isn’t on the page.
“What they work on most” is simply a count of those results — the topics they raise most often, which is a fact about their diary, not their opinions. Motions are Early Day Motions they tabled themselves, from Parliament’s EDM service; we show only ones from the current Parliament, because a motion from a previous one tells you what an MP argued then, not what they are pressing for now.
Last checked 1 August 2026; it refreshes every week.
We publish the record, not a verdict on it. Boroughly takes no political position and never characterises an MP’s views, motives or party politics — a vote is reported as a vote, a quote as a quote. Votes can be procedural, and a single division rarely tells the whole story, so the links matter: follow them. Spot something wrong? Tell us.