Bridget is from a family of North Londoners. Her grandmother was born in Holloway and her grandfather lived and worked on City Road, until his shop was bombed in WWII. Bridget grew up in Metroland and still has family in Harrow. She attended local state schools and won a scholarship to read History & French at Balliol College, Oxford, where she joined the Liberal Party in 1984.
She first came to Islington in 1988 to train as a librarian at the British Library and Polytechnic of North London. She has since worked as a librarian and manager in both the public & private sectors, as well as in training and communications. Bridget has lived in Carshalton and for many years in Islington, where she is a council leaseholder.
Bridget led the successful campaign to Save Essex Road Post Office. She has worked with Londoners to improve housing estates, defend local fire engines, improve safety at Angel Crossing and get action from Thames Water. She has campaigned against Heathrow expansion, in favour of the Fuel Poverty Bill, and has signed up to the 10:10 campaign to cut carbon emissions. In July 2006, Bridget won a national award for her Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Transport.
Bridget led a successful campaign to change party policy on the Digital Economy Bill, defending access to the internet. As a result she was nominated as ISPA Internet Hero of 2010 and for a Liberal Democrat Voice blog of the year award.
Bridget was an Islington Councillor 1998-2006, serving as Deputy Leader, Chair of Partnerships, and the Executive Member for Sustainability. She was PPC for Hampstead & Highgate in 1997 and East Ham in 2001. She has twice fought the Islington South & Finsbury parliamentary seat in 2005 and 2010, winning a record high vote each time.
Bridget is a Friend of the Refugee Council and supports Shelter, Amnesty International, Liberty, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. She sings at St Mary’s Upper Street church, and is a trustee of the St Mary Islington Community Partnership.
Bridget lives with her fiance Richard, who works in the City. In their spare time, Bridget and Richard enjoy music, travel, and exploring historic London, as well as spending time with their cats Louis & Eddie.