Andy Sawford

Sawford was born on 15 March 1976.[3] He was educated at a comprehensive school. He went on to study history at Durham University and graduated in 1997.[4]

Following university, Sawford worked in Parliament for the then-Corby MP Phil Hope.[4] He was a councillor and Cabinet Member on Dartford Borough Council in Kent from 1999 to 2003 representing Littlebrook Ward.[5] Sawford also worked for the Local Government Association (LGA).[6]

From 2003 to 2007 he was director of Connect Public Affairs[7] advising local authorities and organisations such as the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and the Association of Police Authorities (APA).[8] He was from 2008 to 2012 chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU), a London-based thinktank and registered charity, prior to being selected by the Labour Party as their candidate for Corby.[9]

His father, Phil Sawford, was the Labour MP for Kettering from 1997 to 2005.[10]

In Parliament, Sawford proposed a bill under the Ten Minute Rule that would allow the public sector to bid against private sector providers for control over rail franchises.[11] Sawford also proposed a Private Member's Bill on zero hours contracts.[12]

He was the Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government from 2013 until the 2015 general election, and sat on the Communities and Local Government committee[13]

After Parliament, Sawford became chief executive of Connect Communications[14] and later led a management buy out to take ownership of the business.[15] In June 2019 it was announced that Connect had acquired Stratagem, a Belfast-based public affairs agency.

Sawford also serves on the board of the Public Relations and Communications Association[16] and is a governor of the Kettering Buccleuch Academy[17]

• Andy Sawford: Labour and Co-operative MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire
• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
• Voting record at Public Whip
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou