Since embarking on her professional journey in 1992, Rabina Khan has been a tireless advocate for the people and communities of Tower Hamlets.
From her early days coordinating support for victims of racial abuse during tumultuous times, to managing women's projects under the Bethnal Green City Challenge initiative, Rabina's commitment to community welfare has remained unwavering.
With 12 years of service as a councillor, Rabina has been deeply involved in local governance, ensuring that the voices of her constituents are heard and their needs addressed. As a school governor and dedicated advocate for education, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of young minds in Stepney and Shadwell.
Currently pursuing an MA at Birkbeck University, Rabina continues to expand her knowledge and expertise, reflecting her ongoing commitment to personal and professional growth as she prepares to contest elections from Bethnal Green and Stepney.
Here, she discusses her candidacy and plans for her constituency.
How do you intend to address the needs of the constituents in Bethnal Green and Stepney?
The Liberal Democrats are clear on key issues: ending the outdated leasehold system, investing in green technologies, skills training, and tackling air and water pollution. As a party, we will work to boost the economy, cut pollution, and improve quality of life. We have an ambitious housing plan to build the much-needed homes Britain needs, hold rogue landlords to account and address the housing crisis that prices out a generation of young people.
As an MP for Bethnal Green and Stepney, I will be accessible to all the communities, tackling rising living costs, high energy bills and housing concerns. I'll advocate for youth employment opportunities, and fight for local businesses and a safer constituency while making climate change a more inclusive agenda.
Delays in GP appointments, dentists and ambulances and crumbling schools expose the Tories' empty promises and the people of Bethnal Green and Stepney deserve better.
In your book "Ayesha's Rainbow," you explore themes of identity and belonging. How do you plan to advocate for the cultural and social diversity of your constituency if elected?
I am the daughter of immigrant parents and was brought up in Britain in the mid-1970s and were the only family of colour on Rochester Street where we lived. I never saw someone like me at school, in books or at the table of decision-making. This is why campaigning for racial justice has been a key feature of my life.
People and communities have been at the heart of my work, with a particular focus on advocating for the rights of underrepresented groups and tackling critical issues such as knife, gun and acid crime. During the Covid pandemic, I campaigned for Iceland to be included in the government’s Free School Meals supermarket voucher programme because children from underprivileged and those from Black Asian and Minority communities were hit hardest by the pandemic. I campaigned to close the digital divide for children unable to access online education and cited this in my article for Operation Black Vote and supported their call for a Covid Race disparity inquiry.
What message do you have for the voters of Bethnal Green and Stepney as they consider their options in the upcoming election?
Electing me, I promise people will have the busiest constituency surgery in Tower Hamlets. Concerns about housing, rent, children and adults with special needs, schools, and immigration matter to me deeply. My record speaks for itself as a councillor who ran the busiest surgery. As a party, we can achieve a lot, but as a community, we can achieve even more. It's not just about shouting the loudest on issues like Gaza - it's about finding someone who can navigate a complex political system to bring about real change and that's exactly what I aim to do.
