Rita Patel to run for Mayor

One of OBV's founders and international civil rights campaigner Rita Patel has been persuaded by her supporters to run for the new position of directly elected Mayor of Leicester.

Over the past two decades Rita Patel has built organisations and institutions that have literally changed thousands upon thousands of lives. Rita along with a few women launched Belgrave Baheno an organisation that would campaign, in the main, for Asian women’s rights; first in Leicester, and then across the country, eventually spanning their scope to support women in India, Pakistan and Africa.

Not content with being a champion for women, Rita along with others including myself set up Operation Black Vote. Her most ambitious project was to establish the Peepul Centre – a fifteen million pounds theatre, arts and cinema complex to celebrate Leicester’s cultural diversity.

Most people would be satisfied with such great achievements, but not Rita. Her goal now is to win the Labour nomination and unite the peoples of Leicester and establish her home town as a world leading metropolis.

In an exclusive interview with OBV Rita stated that; “I cannot rest whilst there is so much work to do. I love this city, but I know it can be more prosperous, more harmonious and more dynamic. With the support of all communities, the Labour party, and our entrepreneurs, I want to lead this city to great things”.  

If Rita gains the nomination and wins the election she would make history on many levels, not least as the first directly elected female Mayor in the country, but even more than that, a figurehead who brings communities together, to work together.

Simon Woolley