Yasmin Qureshi

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Yasmin Qureshi
MP
Member of Parliament
for Bolton South East
Assumed office
6 May 2010
Preceded by Dr Brian Iddon
Majority 10,928 (26.8%)
Personal details
Born (1963-07-05) 5 July 1963 (age 61)
Gujrat, Pakistan
Nationality British
Political party Labour
Alma mater Polytechnic of the South Bank, University College London
Occupation Member of Parliament
Religion Islam
Website yasminqureshi.org.uk

Yasmin Qureshi (born 5 July 1963)[1] is a British Labour Party politician and a barrister practicing criminal law. Born in Pakistan, she grew up in Britain from the age of nine. She was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bolton South East in the May 2010 general election.[2]

Early life

Qureshi was born in Gujrat City, Pakistan and moved to Britain when she was nine. Her father was an engineer; the family lived in Watford.[3] She grew up the youngest of three children.

She attended the Polytechnic of the South Bank (later London South Bank University) and obtained a BA (Hons) Law degree before studying for and sitting her examinations for the Bar at the Council of Legal Education. She obtained a Master of Laws at University College London.[4]

Political career

At the age of 16, Qureshi joined the Labour Party and became active in local politics.[5]

She stood, unsuccessfully, for Labour in the London constituency of Brent East in 2005.[2] She has worked as a human rights advisor to the former London mayor Ken Livingstone[2] and previously headed the criminal legal section of the UN Mission in Kosovo.[2] Qureshi previously chaired the Human Rights and Civil Liberties Working Group of the Association of Muslim Lawyers and was President of the Pakistan Club (UK).[4]

She was elected at the 2010 general election in the safe Labour seat of Bolton South East, inheriting a majority of 11,000.[6] Qureshi, Rushanara Ali and Shabana Mahmood, elected at the same time, became Britain's first female Muslim MPs. Qureshi is also the first woman to be elected as the Member of Parliament for Bolton South East.[2]

Shortly after becoming an MP, Qureshi received a fine and driving ban for using a mobile phone behind the wheel and driving without insurance.[7]

In May 2014, Qureshi opposed mandatory labelling of meat coming from animals killed by halal and kosher methods. She claimed halal slaughtering can be significantly less painful for animals than the more widespread method of stunning, saying "a myth is being perpetuated that somehow kosher and halal methods, carried out as they should be, are more painful and cause more suffering to the animal, but that is incorrect."[8][9]

Awards and nominations

In January 2013 and 2015, Qureshi was nominated for the Politician of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards.[10][11] In January 2014, she was awarded the Politician of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards.[12]

References

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External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Bolton South East
2010–present		 Incumbent
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