Telford was born in Falkirk and attended the Scottish private school Dollar Academy.
She studied at the University of Strathclyde from 1996 until 2000 and for her final year was vice-President of the Students' Association at the Jordanhill campus.
As President of the National Union of Students from 2002 to 2004, Telford led the campaign against the Labour government's controversial policy to charge university top-up fees, becoming a regular writer for The Guardian and a broadcaster on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Telford worked for the British trade union Amicus (now part of UNITE the union) as coordinator of the anti-bullying Dignity at Work campaign and was special adviser to Tessa Jowell, Minister for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
[3] In 2013, Telford was elected as a councillor in Cumbria County Council for Walney South, Barrow-in-Furness.