	Her introduction to politics came at University College London where she was secretary of the students union. She was a student of international affairs. She was Vice-president of the World Federation of Liberal and Radical Youth. She was a member of the executive of the World Assembly of Youth. She first stood for parliament as Liberal candidate for Finchley at the 1955 General Election. Finchley was a Conservative seat that the Liberals had not won since 1923 and had not come second since 1935. The Liberal party in 1955 was electorally at its lowest point in its history. Despite this, Sykes managed to increase the Liberal vote and save her deposit;