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News-SchemesOBVNewsIssue5Summer20107BreakingintoParliamentWestminsterwelcomedthirtyaspiringpoliticianstakingpartintheOBVMPShadowingScheme.Sincetheschemebeganin1999ninegraduateshavesofarstoodasProspectiveParliamentaryCandidatesandthisyearOBValumnimemberHelenGrantMPwontheConservativeseatofMaidstoneandtheWeald.TheNationalLeadershipProjectinpartnershipwiththeDepartmentforCommunitiesandLocalGovernmentaimstohelpplacemoreBMEpoliticianswithinourelectedchambers.WhilesomeparticipantsaregainingsuccesssadlyfourotherschemememberswereunsuccessfulintheirbidstobecomeMPsonthisoccasion.MariReesLabourPreseliandPembrokeshireShaziaAwanConservativeLeighinManchesterHarinderMannLabourSouthWestHertfordshireandHamiraKhanScottishConservativesGlasgowEastallfoughthardbutwerepippedatthepost.HamiraKhansaidx1cItwasanhonourtohavebeenselectedbythepartyandthiselectionwasaveryexcitingtimetocontribute.IamnotaprofessionalpoliticianbutIamsomeonewhocares.x1cIbelievethatpeopleshouldbeinchargeofwhatgoesonintheirlivesx13notpoliticians.Ibelievethattaxpayersshouldgetvalueformoneynotbeshortchangedwithpopulistpolicies.x1dFrancineFernandesaddedx1cAstheHeadofShadowingSchemesforOBVandagraduateoftheprogrammemyselfithasbeenfantasticwatchingthetransformativenatureoftheschemes.ItisaprivilegetoworkwithsomanytalentedanddynamicindividualswhotrulyembodyOBVx19sethosofx18standinguptobecounted.x19x1dOverthecourseoftheprogrammetheparticipantswillshadowaMemberofParliamentfromthemainpoliticalpartiesspendingsixmonthswiththeirmentorlearningaboutthepoliticalprocess.OngraduationtheybecomeParliamentaryAmbassadorshelpingtoraiseawarenessaboutourdemocraticinstitutions.ReaddiariesofpastparticipantsonOBVx19swebsitewww.obv.org.ukSanchiaAlasiaandRockyGillfromthe2005MPshadowingSchemewerebothsuccessfullyelectedaslocalcouncillorsinBarkingandDagenhamattherecentlocalcouncilelections.CllrRockyGillwhositsonmanyboardswithintheBoroughwasre-electedfortheLongbrideWard.CllrSanchiaAlasiawaselectedforthersttime.Herbackgroundincludesbeingaschoolgovernorandstudentunionvicepresidentatuniversity.SheisamemberoftheFabianSocietyandactivewithinatradeunion.9OBVgraduatesstoodasProspectiveParliamentaryCandidatesintheelection