History has been made and the Asian Muslim community are feeling a sense of pride as Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden, East Sussex since 2015, has become the first female Muslim minister to speak from the Commons dispatch box, at the House of Commons.
Born in Kashmir, Nus Ghani, 45, who has recently been appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport and Assistant Government Whip, was cheered as she answered questions about station access for disabled people.
Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling said that her recent appointment as the Transport Minister cemented that the Tories “were a party of opportunity”, who also produced the first female Prime Minister in the UK as well.
Speaking at the Commons, Chris Grayling introduced Nus Ghani, stating, “We're the party to provide... the first Muslim woman minister to speak from the government dispatch box – the member for Wealden. I congratulate her – I'm very proud to sit alongside her.”
Ghani had previously worked for charities and the BBC World Service prior to first standing as a Conservative Party candidate in Birmingham in the 2010 general election.
She is considered to be one of the most active Members of Parliament who raises issues that matter, such as unreliable rural broadband connections, poor train performance, as well as opposing the Gatwick expansion.
Ghani has also had different opinions from her party colleagues which have been evident. She has consistently voted for allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life, while most of her peers voted against it; and she also voted against investigations into the Iraq war, while most of the Conservative MPs voted for the decision into an investigation.
Debuting as a Transport Minister, Nus Ghani tweeted, “Made my debut as @transportgovuk Minister and made a bit of history as the first female Muslim Minister to speak from the House of Commons dispatch box. Supported by wonderful colleagues Chris Grayling, @JoJohnsonsUK & @Jesse_Norman @Conservatives.”
