Getting to Know Sue Doughty

Sue lives in Shalford at the heart of the Guildford constituency with her husband. She has two grown up sons and two step-daughters. She is very actively involved in the community, as a school governor, through work with people suffering from mental health problems and through many local organisations which she supports.

She joined the Liberal Party in 1980 after becoming involved in a protest against the local authority continuing to dump waste within a few yards of a major housing development. Her concerns about waste management have continued and she has continued to work towards sustainable waste reduction and management.

Prior to winning the Guildford constituency in 2001 Sue had extensive party experience at all levels.

Sue in Parliament

A record of success

In June 2001 Sue won a historic election victory, becoming the first non-Conservative MP in Surrey since 1906, and the first woman Member of Parliament for Guildford. Sue looks forward to winning back the constituency at the next election.

In Parliament Sue was a member of the influential Environmental Audit Select Committee, which scrutinises the environmental impact of government policies. She was also Shadow Environment Minister for the Liberal Democrats and played a strong role in environmental legislation. She chaired the All Party Sustainable Waste Group, the Parliamentary Group for Renewable and Sustainable Energy (Praseg) and was a founder of the All Party Group for Intelligent Energy.

Sue was founder and Chair of the All Party Group for Charitable Giving and successfully encouraged many MPs to use payroll giving in addition to promoting tax-effective giving within their constituencies. As a Member of Parliament Sue campaigned against the issue of the Government's failure to tackle the need for tough arms controls.

Sue tabled a parliamentary question in 2002 which led to the Prime Minister acquiring an email address, so that members of the public can contact him.

Following her work on sustainable waste management she was made an Honorary Fellow of The Institute of Waste Managers.

Achievements

One of Sue's most significant achievements in Parliament was to remove one layer of secrecy from Europe by gaining the agreement of the Foreign Secretary to Ministers explaining what each of them did at European meetings. Ministerial statements on Europe can now be seen on Hansard.

At a national level, the concerns of pensioners, the elderly and those with mental health problems are particularly important to her. She believes that the way which society treats the young, the old and the vulnerable reflects on everyone.

Professional

Sue now works providing advice to companies and Parliamentarians, on general issues and also on environmental matters including the reduction of resource use by business.

A former project manager, Sue has major concerns about government projects and how the failure of such projects affects individuals, including, for example, the CSA, Tax Credits and the handling of asylum seekers. She wants to see government money spent much more effectively.

Sue is sometimes confused with another Sue Doughty, who lives in Twyford and is a frequent newspaper correspondent, and caller to radio programmes. Although they share a name, they certainly don't share political views!

Interests

Sue is a Quaker and many of her political concerns reflect this. She is also a member of The Howard League and Green Liberal Democrats.

In her spare time she enjoys gardening, walking, opera and going to the gym.