Leicester, home to one of the UK’s largest South Asian populations, made headlines last year when it elected Shivani Raja as its first Conservative MP in decades.
Born and raised in Leicester, Raja is of Gujarati heritage and brings both professional experience in marketing and deep community roots to her role. Her victory in 2024 was seen as part of a broader political shift and marked a significant moment for representation in a city often regarded as a Labour stronghold.
Now, one year into her term, Raja reflects on a whirlwind year in Westminster. From tackling local concerns to adjusting to the rigours of Parliament, Raja speaks candidly about the challenges, achievements, and lessons learned in her inaugural year. In a conversation with Asian Voice, she shares how her background shapes her politics, what she's learned from her constituents, and how she hopes to bridge divides in one of the UK’s most diverse cities.
Looking back on your first year as MP, what accomplishments are you most proud of? How has your background as a British Gujarati woman influenced your approach to serving a diverse constituency?
Reflecting on my first year as Member of Parliament for Leicester East, I am deeply proud of the progress we've made together as a constituency. We’ve achieved a lot together in a short amount of time, and I’m really looking forward to another year of delivering for Leicester residents.
With regard to specific accomplishments, there are some that I’m particularly proud of – with one of those being “Shivani’s Spotlight”, my monthly newsletter that keeps residents informed and engaged. While it may not seem to all like a huge achievement, my monthly newsletter is a really important aspect of my work. While I’m working hard behind closed doors, it’s vital for residents to be fully informed as to what I’ve been up to, how I’ve been working for them, and opportunities for them to be involved in. It also gives me an opportunity to get feedback from residents on what they think I should be focusing on – as well as what’s working and what’s not.
That said, “Shivani’s Spotlight” really is just the beginning of what I’ve been working on – supporting local businesses has also remained a key priority. I’ve worked closely with independent traders, small business owners, and local enterprise networks to highlight the challenges they face and connect them with available support. From hosting post- budget brunches, meeting with local businesses and hosting roundtables, my goal has been to ensure that Leicester East’s entrepreneurs have the tools and visibility they need to thrive. Leicester is one of the UK’s most entrepreneurial cities in the UK - our economy depends on them, and they deserve a strong voice in Parliament. I’m really proud of the progress I’ve made on this front, and it’s only reinforced my own convictions to keep working at it.
With regard to my background as a British Gujarati woman – I would argue that it has profoundly shaped my approach to public service. Raised in Leicester by parents who emigrated from India and Kenya in the 1970s, I witnessed firsthand the challenges and triumphs of immigrant communities. This upbringing instilled in me a strong sense of duty to represent all voices, particularly those who have often felt overlooked.
It's also reinforced those core values of hard work, community and respect. Since my election, I’ve put real emphasis on community support, and a community-based approach, as these values align really nicely between both my personal and professional priorities, and have been a big influence in my ability to represent my constituents.
These experiences have reinforced my commitment to ensuring that every community in Leicester East feels heard, respected, and valued. As we move forward, I remain dedicated to building a more inclusive and prosperous future for all our residents.
Your election marked the end of a 37-year Labour hold on Leicester East. How have you navigated this political shift within the community?
Winning Leicester East was a historic moment—not just for me, but for our entire community. After 37 years of Labour representation, my election as the only Conservative gain in the UK was a testament to the power of local engagement and the desire for change.
Our campaign focused on listening to residents, addressing their concerns, and offering practical solutions. We highlighted issues like housing shortages, economic stagnation, and the need for better youth opportunities. By engaging directly with voters, we built trust and demonstrated a commitment to representing all voices in Leicester East.
Support from the community was significant. Many felt disconnected from the Labour Party, and they saw in me a local candidate who understood their values and concerns. I’m really proud to have been able to secure a victory for them, and even prouder to be a local resident representing my home constituency. This connection is what helps me navigate the political shift.
I’m focused on community-based politics, and making sure that residents feel represented on the issues that really matter to them. Ultimately, this has transcended any political differences, because we all want the same thing – a better Leicester.
Looking ahead, my focus remains on uniting our diverse constituency and ensuring that every resident feels heard and valued. I am committed to fostering a sense of belonging and working tirelessly to address the issues that matter most to our community.
Can you share more about the initiatives you took up in the past year and the progress these projects have made, and what impact have they had on the community?
Since I was elected, I’ve been focused on delivering tangible benefits to my constituents wherever I can. Some of these are more long-term projects, where we’ll begin to see stronger results closer to the end of this Parliament – my disused buildings initiative being a strong example of that.
With that in mind, I’ve been proud to lead a number of initiatives that reflect the voices and values of Leicester East over the past year. One project particularly close to my heart is the Connected in Creativity Card Competitions. These brought together young people from across our constituency to design cards for key cultural moments like Diwali, Eid, and Christmas. It’s been an incredible way to celebrate our community’s rich diversity, nurture creativity in schools, and bring people together through shared traditions. The response from students, teachers, and families has been inspiring — and I look forward to growing this initiative even more in the years ahead.
I’ve also developed my Pothole Patrol initiative. Although the issue of road maintenance rests with the local authority, I want to be able to help residents who have already reported the pothole to the council but haven’t received an answer. The Pothole Patrol simplifies the reporting process for residents, enabling quicker identification and repair of hazardous potholes. This initiative empowers the community to actively participate in enhancing road safety and quality of life.
These kinds of initiatives are all about the emphasis on tackling the smaller things that affect the day-to-day lives of residents. They really do make a difference. As soon as you walk out your front door, you’re affected by politics both local and national, and I want Leicester East residents to notice those positive changes that I’m making when they leave their home.
Additionally, I’ve made it a mission to spotlight maternal health inequalities, especially the alarming disparities facing Black and South Asian women. I’ve raised this in Parliament and pushed the Government for change. Every woman deserves safe, respectful maternity care — regardless of her background — and this is an issue that demands urgent, sustained attention from government and health authorities alike.
Together, these initiatives are about more than policy — they’re about people – as that’s who bears the brunt of these decisions.
What have been the most significant challenges you've faced since taking office, and how have you addressed them? Is Reform UK’s rising popularity, as brought to light by the recent local elections, a point of concern?
Since taking office, one of the most significant challenges has been rebuilding trust between politics and the people of Leicester East. After years of feeling overlooked or taken for granted, many residents understandably felt disillusioned with the system. My focus has been on restoring that trust through consistent engagement, transparency, and delivery — whether that’s holding surgeries, supporting local initiatives, or simply showing up and listening.
Feeding into that, I think the biggest challenge of all is the fact that re-energising Leicester is an uphill battle. For too long, Leicester has fallen to the wayside while other UK cities have been receiving investment and growing as a result. We needed someone who was willing to speak up for our city – and I’m more than prepared to do so. This isn’t a problem with a quick fix, but I’ve been working hard to raise the profile of Leicester in Parliament, and ensure that Leicester East receives the investment and attention it deserves. My aim has always been to advocate for practical, people-focused solutions, and I’m working on that now for our city and my constituency.
As for the rise of Reform UK and their performance in the recent local elections — of course, any shift in public sentiment is something that all elected representatives should pay close attention to. It reflects a level of frustration that cannot and should not be ignored. But I also believe that this doesn’t build stronger communities. What we need is real action, not rhetoric — and that’s what I’m focused on delivering. That’s how we counter division — by offering hope, solutions, and politics that works for everyone.
What are your top priorities for Leicester East in the coming year, and how do you plan to address them? Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you’re excited to introduce to the constituency?
My top priority in the coming year will be the same priority I’ve had this year, and will be my top priority every year that I’m the Member of Parliament for Leicester East – delivering for local people.
Obviously, I have a new and exciting priority in my personal life, as my husband and I are having our first child – but professionally the priorities are exactly where they always were. My campaign and everything I’ve done since my election has been done with the purpose of ensuring that local residents feel seen and heard, but it’s not just a listening exercise. The issues that are being raised with me are always ones that directly impact the campaigns and initiatives I work on, and I’m looking forward to putting more of these into action.
This past year has allowed me to lay the foundations, and really understand the priorities for people here in Leicester East, and now I’m looking forward to building on those existing foundations in the years to come.
One of these initiatives is expanding my efforts to address Maternal Health Inequalities, which has only just started. Additionally, I’m hoping to do some more work in the community on my existing plans, particularly with regard to getting our young people engaged in our community – working with students, teachers and parents to do so, and helping make Leicester an appealing place for investment, and subsequent job opportunities.
There’s still a lot of work to be done, but I’m committed to seeing it through every step of the way – showing my constituents why they voted for a candidate that’s from Leicester, for Leicester.
