Sally has been a local councillor for Chatham Ward since 1998. She has lived in Hackney with her family for many years, and attends Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in the borough.

She is a community development worker and has chaired the Council's Personnel Committee. She is a member of the TGWU trade union and has a national profile as a campaigner against miscarriages of justice. Her main priorities are social services, rights for pensioners, equalities and welfare rights.