First Muslim minister; 6 ethnic minority ministers in total
30 06 2007Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, completed his government reshuffle yesterday. He delighted ethnic minority Labour Party activists and supporters by appointing Britain’s first Muslim Minister, first ethnic minority Attorney General, and he increased the overall tally of ethnic minority ministers from four to five.
The 39 year old, Shahid Malik, becomes Britain’s first Muslim minister and has been appointed as a parliamentary under-secretary at the Department for International Development (DfID). The MP for Dewsbury was only elected in 2005 and was the sole member of the new intake of MPs to be placed on the Home Affairs Select Committee. He was also previously a member of Labour’s National Exectuive Committee.
As predicted on these pages yesterday, Baroness Patricia Scotland QC has been appointed as Britain’s first ethnic minority Attorney General and will attend cabinet in that role. Scotland is the first black female QC. A former Lord Chancellor had wanted to elevate her to the bench but Labour propelled her into the Lords instead. Scotland is believed to be highly rated by Brown and thrived, first as a junior minister at the Foreign Office, then at the Lord Chancellor’s department and the Home Office.
David Lammy and Parmjit Dhanda remain as parliamentary under-secretaries of state, but are moved from Culture to Innovation, Universities and Skills, and from Education to Communities and Local Government, respectively. Lammy arguably remains Britain’s most senior, elected, ethnic minority politician, having served as a minister since 2002 in a variety of roles.
Gordon Brown’s close advisor, Shriti Vadera, becomes a Baroness and is appointed as parliamentary under-secretary of state at DfID. She is a former executive director of City investment bank, UBS Warburg, and was a member of the Treasury’s Council of Economic advisors. She is largely credited with forcing through PPP on the London Underground.
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Professor Sir Ara Darzi is one of the world’s leading surgeons, specialising in the field of minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgery. Iraqi born Darzi, who is Armenian by descent, becomes a peer and is appointed as a parliamentary under-secretary at the Department of Health.
Finally, Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting becomes an assistant government whip. Khan won the Newcomer of the Year in the Spectator’s 2005 Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. The lawyer and former chair of Liberty is highly regarded for his intellect is tipped for rapid promotion in future reshuffles.
[...] the more likely the party will make sure she gets to a safe Tory seat before the General Election. TMP blog has more on other ethnic minority candidates were promoted by Gordon Brown this week in his [...]
Great news we have two Muslim Ministers in the Gordon Brown’s new cabinet but recent incidents in UK teaching us lesson to look at our policies again as might us missing something some where. My question is why every time largest group in BAME community have problem (Muslim community) and why not they integrated in this society as they need to be? What are the barriers holding them to integrate in this diverse society? Why other BAME groups have no problems with host community? Some one have to take responsibility to find out answers of my questions otherwise we going to face same situation again and again. No one can ignore needs of all sections of this multi-cultural British community. I think Gordon Brown needs more Muslim Ministers and Advisors who can directly assists Gordon Brown. When Gordon Brown talks about winning minds and hearts of all sections of the community then that’s includes British Muslims too. I think Gordon Brown need to give more attention on Foreign Policy Centre London and to Progressive Labour London as both doing great job and they can assist Gordon Brown and new cabinet to run a meaningful positive foreign policy which can be more beneficial to our society. I personally think a positive foreign policy based on peace can win hearts and minds of this society and other groups living other part of the world. Peacekeepers are on earth every where. At this stage a British foreign policy based on peace means 100% guarantee to success to Labour Party victory in next coming elections. Our national security, security to International community from evil acts (anti-terrorist activities), poverty makes history in UK and abroad, affordable education for everyone in UK and abroad and affordable homes again in UK and abroad should be key priorities to new Labour Government under Gordon Brown’s Leadership.
I am agree with Owais Rajput’s comments and he is 100% right Gordon Brown need to appoint more Muslim Ministers and advisors who can stay closely in-touch with the community and when ever community needs them they available 24/7. Owais Rajput keep carry on your great work for the community.
Owais is right and my request to Gordon Brown to appoint more Minister and advisors from BAME’s largest group (British Muslims) so Government can understands needs of all sections of the community.
I am agree with Owais and he is right Gordon Brown need to bring more Ministers and Advisors. My support with Owais Rajput.
Owais good writing and yes you right we have to request Prime Minister of this country Gordon Brown to appoint more Ministers and Advisors from British Muslim community as they under-represented and touching poverty bottom line. We need someone who working hard and very active in the community like Owais Rajput.
Owais good writing and my support with you and yes you right we have to request Prime Minister of this country Gordon Brown to appoint more Ministers and Advisors from British Muslim community as they under-represented and touching poverty bottom line. We need someone who working hard and very active in the community like Owais Rajput.
Owais because of you I join the Labour Party. I am impress from your work for grassroots and for labour values. well done and keep it up. My support with you. I am agree with Mohammad Shazad Ahmed what ever he said. ” We have to request Prime Minister of this country Gordon Brown to appoint more Ministers and Advisors from British Muslim community as they under-represented and touching poverty bottom line. We need someone who working hard and very active in the community like Owais Rajput”.
Owais because of you I get chance to meet with Labour Party Leadership and yes Shazad is right we need more people in Gordon Brown’s cabinet from British Muslims community. No compromise on our national security as Briton is our country and British interestd are our first priority. Owais Rajput my support with you.
Najum Saleem you right Owais Rajput doing great job for this multi-cultural community. Gordon Brown need to bring people from poor working class background such as Owais Rajput. Owais the way you doing innovative work for this community my support with you and hope Gordon Brown will adjust you somewhere in the Government.
Because of Owais I become member of Black Socialist Society, Labour Friends of Kashmir, British Muslim Youth Forum and I get chance to meet Labour Party Leadership. Because of Owais work for the whole British community my support with him.
Good at least we have two British Muslim Ministers in the cabinet. I am sure Gordon Brown will include more Ministers and Advisors from Muslim community.
I am impress from work of Owais Rajput and the way he deals with community members. I am voting Labour Party because of the relationship of Owais with local residents in the Bradford and in the Yorkshire & the Humber Region.
Owais until you keep carry on work for the community my support with you.
New Labour Government is true copy of multi-culturalism and I am agree with Mohammad Shazad Ahmed comments. Owais Rajput convinced me to vote Labour and get active in BSS.
Owais Good writing. I know you from South Africa when you was in Johannesburg. Keep carry on good work for this multi cultural community as you done the positive community work in Republic of South Africa during period of 1993 to 1995.