Candidates blazing the trail! - Gallery 18

Khalid Mahmood, Labour Party candidate for Birmingham Perry Bar

Khalid came to the UK as a child from Pakistan. After attending school in Small Heath he went on to work at South Birmingham College. He soon became involved in the local Labour Party, and inspired by Roy Hattersley MP, and Sir Dick Knowles, former leader of Birmingham City Council, he was elected as one of Birmingham’s youngest councillors in 1990.

While studying at the University of Central England (now Birmingham City University) he was selected to stand as the Labour Party candidate in the 2001 general election. He was elected as the first Asian and Muslim MP. He was re-elected in 2005 and 2010 with an increased majority.

In Parliament, Khalid has held a number of positions and is a member of the Home Affairs Committee. He now chairs the International Relations All Party Group.

Twitter @khalid4PB
Web: http://www.khalidmahmoodmp.co.uk

Seema Malhooltra

Seema’s mantra has always been work hard, and then even harder. That way they cannot ignore you. Seema was one of the hardest working civil servants using her position to understand what the issues were out there. With so much knowledge and energy she outshone her rivals to win the Labour nomination and then the seat. If Labour is in Government she will no doubt get the nod to become a Minster. A well deserved appointment too.

Chi Onwurah, Labour Party candidate for Newcastle Central

Chi was born in Wallsend, grew up in Kenton and studied Electrical Engineering at Imperial College, London. She then lived in many different cities around the world, without ever, in her words, “forgetting where I'm from: Newcastle. My values and beliefs were formed in Newcastle, based on the people I grew up with and my own experiences.”

Having a young interest in politics, Chi was elected Kenton School’s MP in a mock election, though before entering Parliament in 2010 as MP for Newcastle Central, she had a successful career as an engineer and IT expert, working in a number of countries.

As a student she campaigned against the Federation of Conservative Students at Imperial College and was then active in the Anti Apartheid Movement. Before entering Parliament, Chi was on the Advisory Board of the Open University Business School, reflecting her belief in educational opportunity at every stage in life, and for every level of ability.

Twitter: @chionwurah
Web: http://chionwurahmp.com/

Anas Sarwar, Labour Party candidate, Glasgow Central

Anas Sarwar was born and brought up in Glasgow. He studied dentistry at the University of Glasgow and was an NHS dentist prior to becoming an MP in 2010. In December 2011 he was elected Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, having been an executive member of the Scottish Young Labour. He is a member of the Co-operative Party, the Fabian Society and trade unions Unite and Community.

Anas has a keen interest in Foreign Policy and International Development. Shortly after becoming an MP, he was elected onto the International Development Committee. He is also Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Anti-Corruption, and was recently a member of the welfare Reform Bill Committee.

Anas was a key spokeperson in the No campaign in Scotland, and an early favourtie for the post of Leader of the Scottish Labour Party

Twitter: @anassawar
Web: http://www.anassarwar.org

Valarie Vaz, Labour Party candidate, Walsall South

Valerie was brought up in south-west London, attending Twickenham County Grammar School before reading Biochemistry at Bedford College, London.

She qualified as a solicitor in 1984 and following successful in-house work, set up a community law firm. In 2001 she joined the Government Legal Service, and has worked at the Treasury Solicitors Department and the Ministry of Justice.

From 1986-1990 Valerie was a councillor in Ealing, becoming Deputy Leader. She is a school governor and member of a health authority. She is also a member of the National Trust, the Walsall New Art Gallery, the Wildlife Trust and the Law Society.

She was elected MP for Walsall South in May 2010. She sits on the Health Select Committee, and is also a member of the House of Commons Governance Committee.

Twitter: @valarie_vazmp
Web: http://www.valerievaz.com

Paul Uppal, Conservative candidate, Wolverhampton South West

Born in Smethwick in a terraced house, Paul spent his childhood in what he calls “the working class area of Birmingham” attending local state schools.

He went on to study politics at Warwick University before running his own business. He says, "don't ask anybody to do something for you if you're not prepared to do it yourself."

Paul wanted to be an MP because: “I believe in Britain, and want to be part of the solution in working to preserve Britain's great institutions.” He stood for Parliament in Birmingham Yardley in 2005 and then won the Wolverhampton South West seat in 2010.

Despite his career in politics and interests in sport, he says the most important thing in his life is spending time with his family.

Twitter: @PaulUppalWSW
Web: http://www.pauluppal.com

Nadhim Zahawi, Conservative candidate, Stratford on Avon

Nadhim Zahawi was born in Baghdad to Kurdish parents in 1967. His family came to the UK when he was seven. He grew up in Sussex and was educated at King’s College School in West London, and University College London where he studied Chemical Engineering.

In 2000 he founded YouGov, the market research company which now employs over 400 people on three continents. Ten years later, he stood down from the business to contest successfully the seat of Stratford-on-Avon, and was immediately elected to the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee.

In 2011 he co-authored Masters of Nothing with fellow MP Matt Hancock. An account of the human behaviour behind the banking crash, it ends with policy recommendations designed to prevent a future crisis, several of which have been adopted by the Government.

As an MP, Nadhim campaigned on issues ranging from fighting inappropriate development in Stratford to reforming welfare, and strengthening UK-Kurdish relations.

In 2013 he was appointed to the Prime Minister’s Policy Board, with special responsibility for business and the economy.

Twitter: @nadhimzahawi
Web: http://www.zahawi.com

Rushanara Ali, Labour candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow

Elected as the MP for Bethnal Green and Bow in May 2010, Rushanara represents the area that she grew up in.

She came to the UK with her family from Bangladesh when she was seven and went to school locally before going to Oxford University. After graduating, Rushanara worked at the Institute for Public Policy and Research, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Home Office and The Young Foundation before taking her seat in the House of Commons. She gained Parliamentary experience as an assistant to her MP predeccessor Oona King, from 1997-1999.

In October 2013 Rushanara was appointed Shadow Minister for Education in the Labour reshuffle, having previously been Shadow Minister for International Development.

She says: “Bethnal Green and Bow is a wonderfully diverse community but I know that people here face many challenges. As your MP, I have worked hard to improve the lives of all residents and for our community.”

Twitter: @rushanaraali
Web: http://www.rushanaraali.org

Alok Sharma, Conservative Candidate, Reading West

Alok grew up in Earley and Whitley Wood and went to school in Reading.

A qualified chartered accountant, his career has ranged from working in a factory to advising companies on corporate finance.

Elected to represent Reading West in 2010, Alok has served as a member of the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, as Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Treasury, and a member of the Treasury Select Committee. He is also Conservative Party Vice Chairman with special responsibility for BME communities, and Co-chairman of Conservative Friends of India.

As an MP, Alok has successfully campaigned to deliver government investment in local infrastructure, including improvements at rail stations in the constituency, and worked with local schools and parent groups to deliver government funding for extra school places.

He has fought unsustainable development on green spaces and other inappropriate sites across Reading West.

Alok is a big supporter of local businesses because of the employment and prosperity they bring to Reading, and he also supports local charities, faith groups and volunteers.

Twitter: @aloksharma_RDG
Web: http://www.aloksharma.co.uk

Lisa Nandy, Labour Candidate, Wigan

Lisa was born and brought up in the Northwest, before graduating from Newcastle University in 2001. She was an assistant to Neil Gerrard MP, specialising in housing and homelessness, before working at the youth homelessness charity Centrepoint and The Children’s Society.

She also gained a degree as a mature student at Birkbeck College.

Lisa was elected MP for Wigan in May 2010, and in 2013 appointed shadow Cabinet Office Minister for Civil Society. She sat on the Education Select Committee and in 2012 was appointed shadow Children’s Minister and a year later shadow Minister for Civil Society.

Since being elected, Lisa has campaigned to tackle growing poverty in Wigan and across the country; child abuse; and human rights abuses in Palestine. She has fought to save the Education Maintenance Allowance.

Lisa is a member of UNITE, the Communication Workers Union and Amnesty International.

Twitter: @lisanandy
Web: http://www.lisanandy.co.uk

Sajid Javid, Conservative Candidate, Bromsgrove

Born in England, Sajid attended state schools before winning a place at Exeter University to study Economics and Politics. He joined the Conservative Party in 1988.

He was first elected MP for Bromsgrove in May 2010, and was appointed a Privy Councillor in 2014.

Since entering Parliament, he has been a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee; Parliamentary Private Secretary to George Osborne; Financial Secretary to the Treasury; and Secretary of State at the DCMS.

Before public service, Sajid was a banker and while at Deutsche Bank was a global leader in helping to raise investment in developing countries. He has been engaged in community work all his adult life, including leading a charity expedition to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro for Help the Aged.

Twitter: @sajidjavid
Web: http://www.sajidjavid.com

Virendra Sharma, Labour Candidate for Ealing Southall

Virendra came to Hanwell from India in 1968 and started his career as a bus conductor, before studying at The London School of Economics on a Trade Union Scholarship. A career in the public sector followed including working as a day services manager for people with learning disabilities in Hillingdon.

He was elected MP for Ealing Southall in a by-election held in July 2007. In November 2008, he became Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State at the Treasury and Home Office, resigning in January 2009 in protest at the Labour government's proposal to build a third runway at Heathrow.

Virendra is a member of parliamentary select committees on Health, Human Rights and International Development. He is alsoVice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils.

Married with a grown-up son and daughter and three grandchildren, Virendra has also served as a councillor in Ealing for the past 25 years including a term as Mayor.

Twitter: @virendrasharma

Yasmin Qureshi, Labour Candidate, Bolton South East

Since becoming MP for Bolton South East in 2010, Yasmin has been a member of the Justice Select Committee and the Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee. She is also the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on International Justice and the Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

Yasmin is a qualified barrister and began her legal career with the Crown Prosecution Service and was then co-ordinator of the Criminal Legal Unit from 2000-2001.

After spending time in Kosovo, she rejoined the Crown Prosecution Service as policy adviser, a post she left when she was selected to fight the Brent East seat in 2005. From 2004-2008 she was a Human Rights Adviser to Mayor of London Ken Livingstone. She worked on issues relating to economic and civil rights, she also campaigned against the Anti-terrorism legislation with London Authority.

When selected as candidate for Bolton SE she moved to Bolton and practiced law in Manchester.

Twitter: @yasminqureshi
Web: http://www.yasminqureshi.org.uk

Chuka Umunna

It was back in 2007 when OBV likened Umunna to a British born Barack Obama. Catapulting Umanna in the spotlight in such a way has been both a blessing and a curse. Yet he has lived up to those high expectations by becoming one of the key spokespeople for the Labour party. Many tip him to become party leader, if Miliband fails to become Prime Minister.

Keith Vaz

I’m sure he wouldn’t like being called the Grandfather of Black politics, but I say that because for over three decades Keith Vaz has consistently been the most powerful and influential BME politician in the UK. Staying relevant, powerful and liked is a skill that this veteran politician has in plentiful supply. Any would-be politician wanting a political survival manual had better beat a path to the door of Keith Vaz

Shailesh Vara

Being a BME Conservative when Shailesh Vara began his political career was not the most fashionable thing to do. In fact most BME Conservatives hid their political allegiance in the cupboard. But not Shailesh. He learnt how to win over the racists in his own party and charm the predominantly white electorate that he would serve them well. And he has. He should have been made a Minister sooner than he was. But this man has patience and guile where other contemporaries have failed.

Priti Patel, Conservative Candidate for Witham

Priti was born in London and educated in Watford. Her home and early life has played a large part in forming her political beliefs - her family have lived and worked by the strong traditions of self-help, the importance of family life and support for the local community.

She worked in the Conservative Research Department and became the Deputy Press Secretary to the then Leader of the Opposition, William Hague. She fought the 2005 election as the Conservative Party candidate for Nottingham North and in November 2006 was selected as the Conservative candidate for the new Witham constituency. In 2014 she was appointed Exchequer Secretary to the Treasurer.
Priti has been an active member of the Conservative Party for over 16 years. She strongly believes in putting local people before party politics and has in the past campaigned on issues including rising crime and anti-social behaviour.

As the Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman, Priti is particularly interested in law and order. Priti also believes in the provision of community based health care and that pensioners should be treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve.

Priti strongly opposes British membership of the Euro and supports a tough stance on immigration and asylum.