Quick Facts
Biography
Sarah Ann Ludford, Baroness Ludford (born 14 March 1951) is a British Liberal Democrat politician and member of the House of Lords. She served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for London from 1999 until 2014.
Early life and education
Her father, Joseph Ludford, sent her to the independent Portsmouth High School, before she went up to the London School of Economics, graduating as BSc and MSc. She subsequently qualified as a barrister, joining Gray's Inn in 1979.
Political career
Ludford was created a Life Peer as Baroness Ludford, of Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington on 30 September 1997, after serving as a Councillor for the London Borough of Islington 1991–99. She was elected MEP for London at the European Parliament election in 1999 and returned in 2004 and 2009, before losing her seat in 2014.
A 2008-rule change by the European Parliament initially prevented Ludford (like other Eurodeputies) from taking her seat in the House of Lords in the UK Parliament due to her re-election to the European Parliament in the 2009 election.
She remains Vice President of LGBT+ Liberal Democrats, and a member of the Liberal Democrat groups Friends of Israel and Friends of Turkey.
Political positions
A longstanding opponent of capital punishment, Baroness Ludford has been pressing European drug companies not to supply executioners in the United States with sedatives.
Other activities
- Fair Trials International, Patron
Personal life
Baroness Ludford was married to Steve Hitchins, Leader of Islington Borough Council (2000–06) until his death in September 2019.
