From a childhood of limited expectations to the heart of British parliamentary power

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Nusrat Ghani defied early societal pressures to become a prominent British politician. Her career spans ministerial roles in transport, science, and European affairs, culminating in her 2024 election as a senior Deputy Speaker. Her journey reflects a significant shift in the landscape of UK political representation.

Nusrat Ghani’s path to Westminster began far from the halls of power. Born in 1972, she was educated in Birmingham before pursuing higher education at Birmingham City University and Leeds University. Her early professional life included roles at charities like Age UK and Breakthrough Breast Cancer, as well as the BBC World Service. Her political career gained momentum when she was selected to contest the Wealden constituency in 2013, eventually becoming its first female Member of Parliament in 2015.

Throughout her tenure, Ghani has navigated complex political waters. In 2018, she made history as the first female Muslim minister to address the House of Commons from the despatch box. Her ministerial portfolio has been extensive, covering aviation, maritime, science, and economic security. However, her career has not been without controversy; in 2022, she alleged that her 2020 dismissal from a transport ministerial post was linked to her faith, a claim strongly denied by the Conservative Chief Whip at the time, Mark Spencer.

Ghani has also been a vocal figure in international human rights. She led efforts to investigate supply chain links to Uyghur forced labour and successfully campaigned for a parliamentary motion declaring China’s treatment of the Uyghurs as genocide. This stance led to her being sanctioned by the Chinese government in 2021, a measure that remained in place until 2026. Today, as the Chairman of Ways and Means and a senior Deputy Speaker, she occupies a central role in the administration of the House of Commons, including presiding over the annual budget speech.

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