SPECIAL EDITION 2013 www.todaymag.co.uk £2.00

First Lady - Second Term Michelle Obama Special edition celebrating Leading women of colour in politics Todadiversity news Special Edition 2013

Publisher: Contents Keith Seville 4 15 Yasmin Qureshi First Black Woman MP One of first three Muslim Women MPs Associate Editor: Shirley Anstis 6 Oona King 16 Valerie Vaz Features Editor: Second Black Woman MP BME Woman MP in the UK (2010) Mehrunissa Khan 7 17 Seema Malhotra Graphic Designer: Third Black Woman MP BME Woman MP in the UK (2011) Jovana Perzic 8 18 Sayeeda Warsi Design Consultant: One of first three Muslim Women MPs First Muslim Woman to serve Raj KC in the UK Cabinet Marketing Assistant: 9 Helen Grant O’shane Clarke First Black Woman Conservative MP 19 Sanchia Alasia Labour Party Candidate for Research Assistant: 10 European Elections 2014 Shanice Medford One of first three Muslim Women MPs 20 First Lady Michelle Obama Today Magazine 11 First Black Woman in the USA Abbey House One of six Asian Women MPs as a First Lady Arlington Business Park Reading Berkshire 12 Chi Onwurah 24 First Lady Winnie Mandela RG7 4SA Newcastle’s first Black MP First Lady of South Africa (1994 - 1996)

Tel: +44 (0) 870 414 5252 14 Priti Patel 26 Porta Simpson-Miller Fax: +44 (0) 870 414 5353 First Woman Asian Conservative MP First Jamaican Woman to serve [email protected] and first Hindu Woman MP as a Prime Minister www.todaymag.co.uk Follow Us:

www.facebook.com/ Editors Note todaymag Welcome to our special edition Africa who played a crucial role in the of Today Magazine profiling political transformation of her country and women of colour who are making their Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson www.twitter.com/ mark in the world and are passionate who was again elected in 2012. Today_Magazine about their opportunity to serve. Many I will end with an extract from First of the women have been first at what Lady Michelle Obama’s speech to the they do including MP’s in the UK, such as Democratic National Convention in Today Magazine is owned and Dianne Abbott MP. Each leader uses her September 2012: “ Barack and I were both published by Today Publishing Limited. role to inspire others to make a positive raised by families who didn’t have much in Views expressed in Today Magazine difference in our world. the way of money or material possessions are those of their respective authors and do not necessarily in any way Our cover features the talented but who had given us something far more reflect those of Today Publishing American First Lady Michelle Obama. valuable – their unconditional love, their Limited. The publishers cannot accept She campaigned alongside her husband unflinching legal responsibility for any errors or to present their family to the electorate. sacrifice, and omissions, nor can they accept responsibility for the standing of As a highly successful attorney and the chance to go advertisers or editorial contributions. campaigner she is as qualified to be places they had All prices and credits are accurate at President and has found many ways never imagined time of going to press but are subject to serve her country. She is passionate for themselves.” to change. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission about health and fitness, equipping We hope is strictly prohibited. Today Publishing people to eat better, exercise more and you enjoy and Limited cannot be held responsible access better health advice. take inspiration for any unsolicited material. We have included two other from this issue – © Copyright 2013 Today Publishing international political women, namely please do let Limited. All Rights Reserved. the iconic Winnie Mandela of South us know! Diane Abbott First Black Woman MP in the UK (1987)

Diane Julie Abbott (born 27 September 1953) is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, when she became the first black woman Abbott’s career in politics began to be elected to the House of Commons. in 1982 when she was elected to In 2010, Abbott became Shadow Public Westminster City Council serving until Health Minister after unsuccessfully 1986. In 1987 she was elected to the standing for election as leader of the House of Commons, replacing the Labour Party. deselected serving Labour MP Ernest Abbott was born to Jamaican Roberts as MP for Hackney North & also served on the Treasury Select parents in London in 1953. Her father Stoke Newington. Along with , Committee of the House of Commons. was a welder and her mother a nurse. Bernie Grant and Paul Boateng she She went on to serve on the Foreign She attended Harrow County Grammar became part of the first black and Affairs Select Committee. Abbott chairs School for Girls, and then Newnham Asian intake in Parliament for the All-Party Parliamentary British- College, Cambridge, where she read almost 100 years. Caribbean Group and the All-Party history. At Cambridge, she was Abbott has a record of disagreeing Sickle Cell and Thalassemia Group. tutored by historian . with some party policies, voting against Abbott is founder of the London Schools After university she became an the Iraq war, opposing ID cards and and the Black Child initiative, which administration trainee at the Home campaigning against the renewal of aims to raise educational achievement Office (1976 to 1978), and then a Britain’s Trident nuclear weapons. levels amongst black children. Race Relations Officer at the National She has been seen as a “maverick, In May 2010, she was re-elected Council for Civil Liberties (1978 to 1980). a free-thinker, willing to rebel against in her constituency of Hackney North Abbott was a researcher and reporter the party machine”. and Stoke Newington, with a doubled at Thames Television from 1980 to 1983 Abbott’s speech on civil liberties, majority on an increased turn-out. and then a researcher and reporter in the debate on the Counter-Terrorism She was given a score of 79% by at the breakfast television company Bill 2008 won The Spectator magazine’s Stonewall based on how she voted TV-am from 1983 to 1985. Abbott was “Parliamentary Speech of the Year” on all gay equality legislation before a press officer at the Greater London award and further recognition at the Parliament between 2005 and 2010. On Council under from 2008 Human Rights awards. Abbott has 5 February 2013 MP Diane Abbott voted 1985 to 1986 and Head of Press and served on a number of parliamentary in favour in the House of Commons Public Relations at Lambeth Council committees on social and international Second Reading vote on marriage from 1986 to 1987. issues. For most of the 1990s she equality in Britain.

4 Today Magazine|Special Edition Special Edition | Today Magazine 5 Dawn Butler Oona King Third Black Woman MP in the UK (2005)

The House of Commons, held up as a beacon of democracy, has a ‘dirty little secret’, according to black MPs - Second Black Woman MP its racism. Dawn Butler, only the third black woman ever to have become a Labour All Women Shortlist but was an MP, said she faced such frequent unsuccessful Butler put herself forward in the UK (1997) racism from politicians of all parties that for selection for West-Ham but was not she had to ‘pick her battles’ to avoid selected. Following the retirement of Born Oona Tamsyn King on October being constantly in conflict with her Paul Boateng to become British High became Prime Minister, on 27 June 22, 1967, in Great Britain; daughter colleagues. Disillusioned by what she Commissioner to South Africa she was 2007, Butler was made one of the of Hazel King, a teacher, and Preston has found, she is calling for a dedicated selected as the Labour candidate in Labour Party’s six Vice Chairs, with King, a professor; married Tiberio complaints department with the power Brent South and won the subsequent particular responsibility for Youth issues. Santomarco, 1994. (London) Times. As a Labour MP, King to suspend politicians and send them on election with a majority of 11,326. She She was appointed to the Select Education: York University, BA with was branded one of the “Blair Babes,” awareness training courses. Butler’s first is the third black woman to become Committee on the Modernisation of honours in politics, 1990; studied at the media’s nickname for the young attempt at entering Parliament was in a British MP, the others being Diane the House of Commons shortly after University of California-Berkeley. women MPs who came to power along United States because of a Hackney South where she featured on Abbott and Oona King. her election, and has also served on Memberships: Oxfam; Campaign with Prime Minister Tony Blair. She has trumped-up charge of draft dodging. Butler made her standing committees (notably on the for Pension Fund Democracy; Amnesty also had to deal with reporters that He would not be able to return to his maiden speech on 24 Violent Crime Reduction Bill 2006). In International; Jewish Council for Racial express more interest in her fashion native country until 2000, when his May 2005 in which November 2007 she was appointed Equality (J-Core); One World. choices than in her viewpoints. daughter’s efforts on his behalf earned she described her to the Children & Families Select Career: Political assistant to Glyn “People still tell her she’s the him a presidential pardon. constituency as a “shining Committee. Earlier (in November Ford, Minister of European Parliament, image of singing star Sade, which After her parents divorced, Oona example of integration 2005), she had been promoted to 1991-93; member, John Smith’s makes her groan in frustration,” Helen and her younger brother Slater were at its best”, highlighted Parliamentary Private Secretary to campaign team for leadership of Labour Weathers wrote in the (London) Mirror. brought up by their mother, a teacher, the importance of the the health minister Jane Kennedy, Party, 1992; political assistant to Glynnis Nevertheless, King has managed to in London. “My mother is my heroine Warwick Agreement with but decided to stand down from this Kinnock, MEP, 1994-95; trade union make a name for herself as a fearless in every way,” King later recalled in an the Trade Unions, paid post in early 2006.On 6 November organizer and equality officer, GMB and dedicated fighter for minorities, interview with Valerie Grove of the tribute to other sitting 2007, Butler was chosen to second Southern Region, 1995-97; elected women, and the poor. As Nick Servini Times. “She sacrificed so much for and former black MPs the Queen’s Speech. Her voting record Minister of Parliament (Labour Party), wrote in the Mirror three years after myself and my brother, and for the and said she would be shows she has largely been loyal to Bethnal Green and Bow, 1997. her election, “the 32-year-old ‘Blair children she taught.” a voice for youth. the government. She was promoted to In 1997, at the age of 29, Oona King Babe’ has built her reputation with her Growing up, King experienced Interest in youth Assistant Whip on 12 September 2008. became the Member of Parliament straight talking, championing the cause prejudice from both sides--whites services has continued as Butler was named female MP of (MP) for the east London district of of the worst-hit in society.” called her names because she was one of her main interests the year at the 2009 Women in Public Bethnal Green and Bow. A member Her mother, Hazel (Stern) King, black, blacks because she was Jewish. in Parliament. On 24 Life awards, beating fellow Labour of the Labour Party, King was only the came from a poor Jewish family in the “But it’s nothing compared to what October 2006 she was MPs Margaret Moran and Sharon second black woman to be elected to north of England, while her father, my parents suffered,” King told Helen appointed Chair of the Hodgson. Following her appointment the House of Commons in centuries , was from an affluent Weathers of the Mirror. As a child, her All Party Parliamentary as Minister for Young Citizens and of parliamentary history. “Oona King African-American family. The two had mother had stones thrown at her as Group on Youth Affairs, Youth Engagement, Butler became the is Jewish, black--and the epitome met while studying at the London she walked to school, simply because and she is an Honorary first black woman to speak from the of a new class of determined young School of Economics. At the time, she was Jewish; and her father had Vice President of the Despatch Box in the House of women bringing a chic euphoria to the Preston King, a civil rights activist, was experienced the institutionalized British Youth Council. Commons during question time Commons,” Valerie Grove wrote in the living in exile, unable to return to the racism of the American South. After on 9 December 2009.

6 Today Magazine|Special Edition Special Edition | Today Magazine 7 Rushanara Ali

First MP of Bangladeshi origin and one of the first three Helen Grant Muslim Women MPs Rushanara Ali is the Labour Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow. She was elected in May career as a Research Assistant to in the UK (2010) First Black Woman Conservative 2010 with a majority of 11,574, having British social activist and politician defeated ’s Respect Michael Young. The pair worked In 2007, The Labour Party chose Party. In October 2010, Rushanara was together on Tower Hamlets Summer Ali as a prospective Parliamentary MP in the UK (2010) appointed to the Labour front bench University, an independent learning candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow. as Shadow Minister for International programme for young people aged On the 6th May 2010, Ali became British Helen Grant was elected Development. As part of this role between 11 to 25. She is also a board the first person of Bangladeshi origin as Conservative MP for Maidstone she is the Labour spokesperson on member of the Tower Hamlets College, to be elected to the House of Commons & the Weald on May 6th 2010 with I became the first ever Justice and International Development matters for a Trustee of charity organisation, Paul with 11,574 votes. Ali is one of the a majority of 5,889. Victims minister in September 2012. Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Hamlyn Foundation and a member of United Kingdom’s first female Muslim Born in London, Helen was brought I look after the interests of victims reminded me of my own son who is climate change, conflict and stabilisation the Tate Britain Council. Members of Parliament. up on the Raffles council estate in and witnesses of any crime, including in the Royal Marines and often away as well as gender equality. Prior to her Carlisle for much of her early childhood. , sexual violence from home. My background has shaped election in May 2010, she was Associate She represented the County in Hockey, and rape. I’ll be called on to speak my politics. I grew up on what you Director of the Young Foundation. She Tennis, Athletics, and Cross-Country. about a number of issues, from the might call an infamous council estate in previously worked at the Communities She later became under-16 Judo opening of new rape support centers to Carlisle with my mother, grandmother Directorate of the , leading Champion in North of England and government plans to stop bailiffs taking and great-grandmother. I’ve always had a work programme in response to Southern Scotland. Helen moved on to advantage of people. really strong female role models; my the 2001 disturbances in the North of obtain a law degree at the University of I was a family lawyer for 23 years mother even set up the first women’s England (2002-2005). Hull, undertook solicitors’ finals at the before I got into politics and saw a huge refuge in Carlisle. You have to be Rushanara has worked on human College of Law in Guildford and qualified amount of domestic violence. I even quite thick-skinned to deal with Prime rights issues at the Foreign and as a solicitor in 1988. had a woman turn up on my doorstep Minister’s Questions, which happens Commonwealth Office (2000-2001) as Helen is married with two sons. on Christmas Eve with a black eye, every Wednesday at 12pm. It’s a chance a Research Fellow at the Institute for She lives in Marden in Kent and in two carrier bags of clothes and three for MPs to pose any questions they like Public Policy Research (1999-2002) and Kingswood, Surrey, and enjoys tennis, small children by her side. That wasn’t to David Cameron and it’s very noisy, as Parliamentary Assistant for Oona movies, major sporting events and uncommon and it’s had a huge effect on confrontational and combative. There’s King, former MP for Bethnal Green & family life. my work now. no doubt Westminster is still a very Bow (1997-1999). She held that position In 1996 Helen set up Grants It’s important to me to be hands on, male environment. But we are making for two years before moving on to Solicitors, a specialist firm focused on so I feel like I’m making a difference. I steps in the right direction – 21% of the Foreign Office to work on human dealing with the problems of family once helped out a young man who had members of the House of Commons rights issues. She has also worked as breakdown. The practice is now been injured in Bali. He was knocked off and 22% of the House of Lords is now the Research Assistant to Lord Young of managed by Helen’s husband Simon. his bike and left for dead, but couldn’t female. I’m the first black, female Tory Dartington (author of the 1945 Labour “My alarm usually goes off at about travel back to the UK because he’d minister but it’s not something I think Party manifesto), helping him to set 6.30am. Although, sometimes I’ll get forgotten to renew his travel insurance. about too much. I don’t think my sex or up Futureversity (formerly known as up as early as 4.45am to head into a TV I instigated a campaign through which colour should matter, but some people Tower Hamlets Summer University) and news studio where I’ll be on the sofa on members of the public raised enough find it interesting. If it breaks through Language Line, a national telephone current affairs shows, such as Daybreak funds to get him back here. It was one more glass ceiling, then that’s interpreting company. Ali started her and Sky News. particularly poignant because he a good thing.”

8 Today Magazine|Special Edition Special Edition | Today Magazine 9 Shabana Mahmood

One of first three Muslim Women MPs in the UK (2010) Shabana Mahmood MP was elected to Parliament in May 2010, and was one During her time at Oxford, she was of the first female Muslim MPs in the elected JCR (Junior Common Room) Inn. She completed her pupillage at country. Soon after her election, she President and awarded the Ashurst 12 King’s Bench Walk chambers in Lisa Nandy was elected to the Work and Pensions Morris Crisp Prize for Best Performance London, after which she practised as Select Committee, where she took a in the Lawyer’s Ethics finals examination an employed Barrister, specialising in particular interest in unemployment by the University. After University, she professional indemnity litigation. issues and the government’s Work completed the Bar Vocational Course at She became one of the first Muslim Programme. In October 2010 Shabana the Inns Of Court School of Law, having women, and one of the first Asian was appointed Shadow Home Office been awarded a scholarship by Gray’s women, to be elected to Parliament. One of six Asian Women Minister, with responsibility for immigration and counter-terrorism. She was appointed Shadow Minister Lisa Eva Nandy (born 9 August 1979) MPs in the UK (2010) for Higher Education in October 2011. is a British Labour Party politician. She Shabana was born in Birmingham and has been the Member of Parliament Nandy served as a Labour councillor attended local schools before winning (MP) for the Wigan constituency, in in the Shepherds Bush Green ward, a place at Oxford University to study Greater Manchester, since the 2010 Hammersmith and Fulham, from 4 May Law. Whilst studying at Oxford she was general election and is one of six Asian 2006 to 10 May 2010. She was selected involved in a number of programmes female MPs in the country. as the Labour parliamentary candidate designed to increase applications to Nandy was born in Manchester, for Wigan in February 2010 from an all- the university from students from Greater Manchester to Lady Luise women shortlist. Elected to Parliament non-traditional backgrounds, including Nandy (née Byers) and her then on 7 May 2010, she became the ethnic minority students. husband Dipak. Nandy grew up both constituency’s first female MP and one Shabana completed her Bar in Manchester and in Bury, Greater of the first six Asian female MPs elected Vocational Course at the Inns of Court Manchester, where her family later to Parliament. She was appointed to the School of Law and before her election moved to. She graduated from Education Select Committee on 12 July was a practising Barrister specialising Newcastle University, Tyne and Wear, 2010 and was appointed Parliamentary in professional indemnity litigation at in 2001 with a degree in politics and Private Secretary to the Shadow Cabinet a leading national law firm. Shabana is obtained a master’s degree in public Minister for the Olympics, Tessa Jowell, an experienced litigator and has acted policy from the . in October 2010. In 2012, she was on a number of high value and complex She has worked in the voluntary sector, made shadow junior education minister cases, primarily representing defendants as a researcher at the homelessness after the reshuffle triggered by the and their insurers. In addition to her charity Centrepoint from 2003 to 2005, resignation of Peter Hain. legal career, Shabana volunteered as a and then as senior policy adviser at supplementary school teacher where The Children’s Society from 2005, alongside her teaching responsibilities, where she specialised in issues facing she continued to mentor, advise and young refugees. She also acts as an assist students from disadvantaged adviser to the Children’s Commissioner backgrounds, with university for England and to and job applications. Asylum Commission.

10 Today Magazine|Special Edition Special Edition | Today Magazine 11 Chi Onwurah

Newcastle’s first Black MP (2010) Labour party members in the elected as the school’s ‘MP’. Chinyelu and now this is an opportunity to show Newcastle Central constituency Susan Onwurah said, ‘I am honoured my appreciation to them for the chances selected, Chenyelu, a Senior Engineer to have been selected as Labour’s in life they have given me’. working in the public sector, as candidate for Newcastle Central. She continued, ‘Politics should successor to long-serving Labour MP Jim Jim Cousins was an MP of huge be about partnership - not managing Cousins who announced his intention standing, great integrity and a great people but listening to what people to retire after 22 years in Parliament. example to follow. This is my home city. want. I know what I want my home Chinyelu, was born in Newcastle I was born here, welcomed back as a city to be: a city with an industrial base upon Tyne, and attended Kenton child and educated in the City. I owe with excellent public services. I’ll be Comprehensive School where she was everything to the people of Newcastle campaigning hard to make sure that people in this great City are given the opportunities that they deserve’. Joyce McCarty, Chair of Newcastle Central CLP said, ‘Jim Cousins has been a really hard working MP who has always conducted himself with great integrity. We all know he will be a hard act to follow. This has been a really important decision for the constituency. I am delighted that we have selected Chinyelu Susan. It has been an incredibly high quality contest with very capable women candidates to choose from. I know local party members are extremely keen to campaign alongside Chinyelu Susan in the months ahead’. Onwurah says her family’s experience of the Biafran Civil War in Nigeria and the resulting instability made her “value and appreciate even more living in a stable democracy and having good public services such as excellent public schools.” Her mother, a lifelong Labour member and activist, also influenced her political views. “She was always making sure I understood that the good schools and health care, everything I was benefiting from, didn’t come about by accident,” Onwurah says. “Working men and women fought for them as part of the democratic struggle.” Onwurah believes growing up in Newcastle and attending the largest school in the constituency has enabled her to connect with voters and she says they have reacted positively to her campaign. However, the British National Party, is also active in Newcastle, whose population is 97 per cent white.

12 Today Magazine|Special Edition Priti Patel Yasmin Qureshi

First Asian Woman Conservative MP One of first three Muslim Women and first Hindu Woman MP in the UK (2010) MPs in the UK (2010) Labour MP Bolton South East Yasmin entered Parliament on May 6th Priti Patel was elected as the first General Election 2010. Qureshi was Member of Parliament for the Witham born in Jhelum, and moved She has been actively involved in Constituency in May 2010. She was to the UK when she was nine. She community work for over twenty years born in London and educated at a stood, unsuccessfully, for the London with the Citizen Advice Bureau and comprehensive school in Watford constituency of Brent East in 2005. local law centres. She has been the before studying economics at Keele she was the Director of Corporate governor for a college and three University and completing her Communications at the international schools. She is passionate about postgraduate studies at the University company Weber Shandwick. public service and firm in her At the age of 16, Qureshi joined of Essex. Priti is currently an elected She is married with a young son and commitment to work for the the Labour Party and became active Member of the Conservative Party spends her time between Westminster people of Bolton South-east. in local politics. She has worked as a Board, the 1922 Committee’s Executive and her home in Witham, where Yasmin has worked in the human rights advisor to the former and the Public Administration Select she has initiated a number of local Government Legal Service London mayor Ken Livingstone. Qureshi Committee. She also chairs the All campaigns aimed at tackling diverse and the Crown Prosecution previously chaired the Human Rights Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group issues such as: literacy in schools, she was adopted as the Prospective Service. She was the Head and Civil Liberties Working Group of the and is an active member of the Free improvement in local infrastructure and Parliamentary Candidate for the of the Criminal Legal Section Association of Muslim Lawyers and was Enterprise Group. She is particularly youth unemployment. She regularly notionally safe Conservative seat of of the UN Mission in Kosovo President of the Pakistan Club (UK). She interested in business, trade and supports local charities and schools Witham, a new constituency created (UNMIK) and later the Director was elected at the 2010 general election ensuring that British businesses flourish. in Witham and throughout Essex. in a boundary review. Priti Patel was of the department of Judicial in the safe Labour seat of Bolton South Her political beliefs in this area were Priti is determined to be a strong elected in the 2010 general election, Administration in Kosovo.Yasmin East, inheriting a majority of 11,000. formed around her own experiences voice for Witham, Essex and Britain in with a majority of 15,196 votes. In has acted as Human Rights Qureshi, Rushanara Ali and Shabana in business, from assisting her parents Parliament and believes passionately August 2012, Patel co-authored a advisor to the former London Mahmood, elected at the same time, who have run a number of small in principles of accountability, fairness book, Britannia Unchained. In it, the Mayor Ken Livingstone. She became Britain’s first female Muslim businesses around the South East and and transparency – standing up for her authors claim that “Once they enter is married, lives in Bolton and MPs. Qureshi is also the first woman to East of England, to her career in the constituents, British businesses, and the workplace, the British are among practices law as a Barrister from be elected as the member of parliament communications industry, where she victims of crime. Priti Patel was placed the worst idlers in the world”. When chambers in Manchester. She for Bolton South East. Qureshi is a worked in corporate communications on the “A-List” of Conservative Party contacted by journalists about her won her seat in Bolton South supporter of “all-black shortlists” for a variety of international companies. candidates before the 2010 general contributions to the book, Patel East with a 47.4% share of the as a method of getting more ethnic Prior to the 2010 General Election, election. On 20 November 2006, refused to discuss them. popular vote. minorities into Parliament.

14 Today Magazine|Special Edition Special Edition | Today Magazine 15 Valerie Vaz Seema Malhotra BME Woman MP in the UK (2010) BME Woman MP in the UK (2011) Valerie Vaz was born in , Seema was born in Hammersmith to parents Merlyn and Tony Vaz who Gardens. She was elected MP for in West London, and attended Heston awarded a scholarship and spent a year originated from Goa, . She has Walsall South in May 2010 and has been music and gardening. In June 2010, Primary School and the Green School in at University of Massachusetts, USA. experience with leading firms Accenture a sister and her brother is the former elected as a Member of the influential she was selected as a Labour member Isleworth. She grew up in Osterley and She went on to attend Aston University and PriceWaterhouseCoopers. She has Minister of State, Keith Vaz who has Health Select Committee. Valerie is of the Health Select Committee. She . She went on to study at the where she gained an MSc in Business IT. worked with a range of government been the MP for East married to Paul Townsend, a primary is also Vice Chairwoman of the Labour University of Warwick where she gained Prior to entering Parliament, Seema departments in the UK including since 1987. school teacher. They have a teenage Parliamentary Party, having been a BA (Hons) in Politics and Philosophy. was a freelance business and public Revenues and Customs, Ministry of Her family settled in daughter. Valerie’s other interests are elected by fellow Labour MPs. During her time at Warwick Seema was service adviser and has over ten years Justice and the Home Office. and then East Sheen. Valerie attended Seema led the cross-Government Twickenham County Grammar School, programme Increasing Diversity in and Bedford College, University of Public Appointments working with London where she read Biochemistry. Whitehall, headhunters, businesses She also attended Cambridge and community groups. She has also University to undertake research. advised the video games industry Valerie qualified as a solicitor in on their child safety agenda. She is a 1984. She has worked as a lawyer in former school governor and candidate local government in London Boroughs. for the London Assembly. In 2007 she She set up a community law firm was shortlisted for the Asian Women Townsend Vaz and sat as a Deputy of Achievement awards. District Judge. One of her notable cases Seema is co-founder and Director was Hammersmith and Fulham v Monk of the Fabian Womens Network and HL 1992. The case confirmed a former National Chair of the Fabian the principle that one of two joint Society. From May – October 2010 tenants can serve a Notice to Quit Seema was Political Adviser to Rt Hon on a landlord and end the tenancy. MP in the Leader of In 2001 she joined the Government the Opposition’s Office, and has also Legal Service and has worked at the been adviser to West Midlands Regional Treasury Solicitors Department and Ministers Rt Hon MP and the Ministry of Justice. MP. From 1986 -1990 Valerie was a Seema Malhotra was elected Labour Councillor in the London Borough of and Co-op Member of Parliament for Ealing and was Deputy Leader in 1988 Feltham and Heston in December 2011. -1989. She stood as a Parliamentary Seema was promoted in August 2012 to Candidate in Twickenham in 1987 and become Parliamentary Private Secretary in the European elections in 1999 in the for Women and Equalities to Rt Hon East Midlands. Her community work Yvette Cooper MP, Shadow Home Affairs includes being a school governor and and Equalities Minister. She was also member of a health authority. Valerie elected Chair of the Parliamentary was a presenter/interviewer for BBC TV Labour Party Business Group and sits Network East in 1987. on the . She She is currently a member of is active in the Co-operative Party and the Lay Advisory Panel of the College Unite and speaks and writes in national of Optometrists, the National Trust, media, particularly on business, justice, the Law Society and a Friend of Kew gender and equality issues.

16 Today Magazine|Special Edition Special Edition | Today Magazine 17 Sayeeda Warsi Sanchia Alasia

First Muslim Woman to serve in the UK Cabinet (2007) Labour Party Candidate for European elections (2014) Sayeeda Hussain Warsi, Baroness After qualifying as a solicitor, she peer Lord Ahmed, to mediate in the Sanchia Alasia is a Labour co-wrote a chapter about the resources Warsi PC (born 28 March 1971) is worked for the last Conservative MP for Sudanese teddy bear blasphemy case Councillor for Alibon Ward in Barking and constraints of diversity and equality a British solicitor and politician of Dewsbury, John Whitfield, at Whitfield (a British citizen teaching at Unity and Dagenham and a specialist in officers. Sanchia is a well sought after Pakistani origin who was created a Hallam Goodall Solicitors and then set High School had been prosecuted French politics. Sanchia has been speaker and has spoken at the World life peer in 2007. From May 2010 up a practice in Dewsbury. and jailed for insulting Islam after selected as one of the six new Labour Diversity leadership summit and the to September 2012 she was the Co- Warsi was the unsuccessful allowing her class to name a teddy Party candidates for the European European Diversity Business Congress Chairman, along with Lord Feldman, of Conservative parliamentary candidate bear Muhammed). Although the peers’ elections in 2014 in the London region. over the last couple of years. Sanchia the Conservative Party, and a Minister for Dewsbury at the 2005 general meeting with Sudanese President After working with Labour Party activists was selected as one of the 35 delegates without Portfolio in David Cameron’s election, becoming the first Muslim Omar al-Bashir did not lead directly to defeat the far right in Barking, to the Women in Public Service project Cabinet. She was the third Muslim woman to be selected by the to Gillian Gibbons being pardoned, it Sanchia now wants to use this direct out of the initial 170 applicants, which minister and the first female Muslim Conservatives. During the election is acknowledged that, along with the experience to help sister parties fight took place in Paris in October 2012. to serve as a minister in the United campaign she was criticised for election enormous efforts made by her family, the far right across Europe. Sanchia The theme of the project was global Kingdom, although she never won an literature which was described as friends, and others, it was a helpful was born in Jamaica and grew up in health, particularly relevant as she election. On 4 September 2012, she was “homophobic” by the gay equality contribution to her release. Gibbons’ Newham, east London. Both of her chairs the health scrutiny committee appointed Senior Minister of State for group Stonewall. She served as a son thanked Warsi and Ahmed for parents worked in the public sector, at the London Borough of Barking and Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in special adviser to Michael Howard “their hard work behind the scenes” her mum is a teacher and her dad was Dagenham. In this role she has led the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on community relations, and was and the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, a train driver. Sanchia has a BSc in a review of the quality and safety of and Minister for Faith and Communities. appointed by David Cameron as praised both peers, saying “I applaud politics and sociology and an MSc maternity services at Queens’s hospital Baroness Warsi was the second of chairman of the Conservative Party with the particular efforts of Lord Ahmed in politics, policy and government. in Romford and is currently leading five daughters born in Dewsbury, West specific responsibility for cities. and Baroness Warsi in securing her Sanchia is an award winning diversity on an in-depth scrutiny review of Riding of , to Pakistani parents On 2 July 2007, Warsi was freedom.” The left-leaning Guardian and human resource specialist and an services and support for diabetics in from Bewal, Gujar Khan. She is of appointed Shadow Minister for newspaper referred to the incident as associate member of the Chartered Barking and Dagenham. borough as a school governor in a local Syed caste, her ancestors being Arabic Community Cohesion. To take up the “Tory Peer’s Triumph”. Institute of Personnel Development Sanchia has always been an active primary school within her ward and as migrants to Pakistan. post, she was created a life peer as On 12 May 2010, David Cameron (CIPD). Sanchia has worked on equality individual, having been a student chair of the health and adult services Warsi was educated at Birkdale Baroness Warsi, of Dewsbury in the appointed Baroness Warsi as Minister and diversity issues in a number of governor at her last university and was scrutiny committee. High School, Dewsbury College, and County of West Yorkshire, on 11 October without portfolio in Cabinet, when she public sector organisations. She led elected to become the first Black vice She is a specialist in French political the University of Leeds, where she read 2007 and was introduced in the House succeeded Eric Pickles as chairman the mature students section within president in her students union. As analysis and broader European debate law (LLB). She attended the College of of Lords on 15 October 2007. On joining of the Conservative Party. The the National Union of students, Black well as being an active member of the and writes about the French presidency Law, York to complete her legal practice the House of Lords, she became its appointment made Warsi the first students campaign. She sat on the Labour party, Sanchia is also an active and tackling the far right in the UK and training and thereafter with both the youngest member. Muslim woman to serve in the Cabinet. women’s staff network committee member of the , Co-op across Europe on a regular basis, on her Crown Prosecution Service and the On 1 December 2007, Warsi Ahead of David Cameron’s cabinet and co-chaired the Black staff network Party, Christian Socialist Movement, own blog sanchiaalasia.blogspot.com Home Office Immigration Department. travelled to Khartoum, with the Labour reshuffle, Warsi plead to retain her group at Transport for London. Whilst BAME Labour and her trade union, and on www.leftfootforward.org position as Conservative Party chairman. studying for her master’s degree she UNISON. Sanchia has completed Sanchia was shortlisted to the final Her argument to stay was based on was elected as the race equality officer internships with and Diane three for International politician of the her sex and ethnic minority origins at the University of London Union. Abbott and now brings that experience year for the inaugural Google European saying “I’m a woman, I’m not white”. Professionally her roles include diversity to help and to work closely with local Diversity Awards in 2011. She was long In the same interview she said that officer at Queen Mary University and residents in Alibon ward, resolving listed to the final ten for the Women in she was angry to be viewed “as a Equality and Diversity lead within the their issues with long lasting solutions. the city awards this year and is currently tokenistic appointment”. NHS. She currently provides expert Sanchia was elected as a Labour party shortlisted to the final three for the In the event, on 4 September diversity advice to Brunel University as councillor in Barking for Alibon ward women in public service category in the 2012 Warsi was shuffled to the new their equality and diversity manager. in May 2010, where she defeated the Precious awards. post of “Senior Minister of State” in Working in all these roles has given London regional coordinator of the She was given a community the Foreign Office and Minister for Faith Sanchia a strong understanding of BNP, Robert Bailey, who was the sitting leadership award for the work she and Communities (the latter being equality and employment law as well councillor at the time, to become the tirelessly does in her local community, a role she shadowed in opposition). as developing initiatives to improve youngest woman on the council. With at the good neighbourhood awards Warsi tweeted she had been sacked workforce representation. her ward colleagues Darren Rodwell ceremony which took place in Barking in from the Cabinet saying, “It’s been Due to her expertise, Sanchia was and John Davis, they achieved a labour December 2012. She was shortlisted for a privilege and an honour to serve asked to write a chapter for the book swing of over 7% in the 2010 local young councillor of the year in the Local my party as co-chairman, signing off ‘Equality, inequalities and diversity’ elections by reaching out to wider Government Information Unit, annual @ToryChairman”. published by Palgrave Macmillan she community. Sanchia currently serves the councillor 2013 achievement awards.

18 Today Magazine|Special Edition Special Edition | Today Magazine 19 First Lady Michelle Obama

First Black Woman in the USA as a First Lady Michelle Obama was born on January 17, 1964 in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Princeton University, graduating cum laude in 1985, and went on to earn a law degree from By sixth grade, Michelle was Harvard Law School in 1988. Following attending gifted classes, where she law school, she worked at a Chicago learned French and took accelerated Law firm, where she met her husband, courses. She then went on to attend the President Barack Obama. The Couple city’s first magnet high school for gifted the area of marketing and intellectual Married on October 3, 1992. As first children, where, among other activities, property. There, in 1989, she met lady, she has focused her attention on she served as the student government her future husband, Barack Obama, current social issues. treasurer. “Without being immodest, a summer intern to whom she was Michelle was raised on Chicago’s we were always smart, we were always assigned as an adviser. “I went to South Side in a one-bedroom driven and we were always encouraged Harvard and he went to Harvard, and apartment. Her father, Fraser to do the best you can do, not just the firm thought, ‘Oh, we’ll hook these Robinson, was a city pump operator what’s necessary,” her brother, Craig, two people up,’” Michelle said. “So, you and a Democratic precinct captain. has said. “And when it came to going to know, there was a little intrigue, but I Her mother, Marian, was a Spiegel’s schools, we all wanted to go to the best must say after about a month, Barack secretary who later stayed home to schools we could.” asked me out, and I thought, ‘No way. raise Michelle and her older brother, Michelle graduated in 1981 from This is completely tacky.’” Initially, she Craig. The family has been described Whitney M. Young Magnet High refused to date Barack, believing that as a close-knit one that shared family School in Chicago’s West Loop as class their work relationship would make the meals, read and played games together. salutatorian. After high school, she romance improper. Craig and Michelle, 21 months followed her brother to Princeton Eventually, she relented, and the apart in age, were often mistaken for University, graduating cum laude in couple soon fell in love. Their first twins. The siblings also shared close 1985 with a B.A. in Sociology. She went kiss took place outside of a Chicago quarters—they slept in the living room on to earn a J.D. from Harvard Law shopping centre—where a plaque with a sheet serving as their makeshift School in 1988, where she took part featuring a photo of the couple kissing room divider. Both children were raised in demonstrations demanding more was installed more than two decades with an emphasis on education. The minority students and professors later, in August 2012. brother and sister learned to read at Following law school, Michelle After two years of dating, Barack home by the age of 4, and both skipped worked as an associate in the Chicago proposed. “We were at a restaurant second grade. branch of the law firm Sidley Austin in having dinner to celebrate the fact

20 Today Magazine|Special Edition Special Edition | Today Magazine 21 that he had finished the bar“ Michelle Michelle joined the University Michelle Obama first caught the “I have usually chosen to just appear remembers. ”Then the waiter came over of Chicago in 1996 as associate dean eye of a national audience while at her when necessary.” with the dessert and a tray. And there of student services, developing the husband’s side when he delivered a After her husband’s political was the ring. And I was completely university’s first community-service high-profile speech at the Democratic role pushed the Obama family into shocked.” The couple married at program. She then worked for the National Convention in 2004. Barack the spotlight, Michelle was publicly Trinity United Church of Christ on University of Chicago Hospitals Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate recognized for her steely, no-nonsense October 3, 1992. beginning in 2002, as executive from Illinois that November. campaign style as well as her sense of Michelle soon left her job to launch director of community relations In 2007, Michelle scaled back fashion. In May of 2006, Michelle was a career in public service, serving as an and external affairs. her own professional work to attend featured in Essence magazine as one assistant to Mayor Daley and then as the In May 2005, she was appointed to family and campaign obligations of “25 of the World’s Most Inspiring assistant commissioner of planning and vice president for community and during Obama’s run for the Democratic Women.” Then in September 2007, development for the City of Chicago. external affairs at the University presidential nomination. Michelle was included in 02138* In 1993, she became executive of Chicago Medical Centre, where It has been reported that the magazines as number 58 in “The director for the Chicago office of Public she continued to work part-time Obama family has no nanny and that the Harvard 100,” a yearly list of the school’s Allies, a non-profit leadership-training until shortly before her husband’s children are left with their grandmother, most influential alumni. She has also program that helped young adults inauguration as president. She serves Marian, while their parents campaign. made the Vanity Fair best-dressed list develop skills for future careers in the as a board member for the prestigious “I’ve never participated at this level in two years in a row, as well as People public sector. Chicago Council on Global Affairs. any of his campaigns,” Michelle says. magazine’s 2008 best-dressed list.

Both Michelle and Barack Obama get the support they need, not just to have stated that their personal priority survive, but to thrive.” is their two daughters, Malia and Sasha. Both Malia (born 1998) and The parents realized that the move from Sasha (born 2001) attend the Sid Chicago to Washington, D.C., would well Friends School, a private Quaker be a major adjustment for any family. school in Washington, D.C. They seem Living in the White House, having Secret to be living a fairly normal teenage Service protection and always being in existence despite their extraordinary the wake of their parents’ public lives circumstances. Michelle and Barack has dramatically transformed their have certain rules that the girls are lives. Both parents try to make their expected to follow, such as having to daughters’ lives as “normal” as possible, eat their vegetables and strict limits on with set times for studying, going to bed how long and when they can use the and getting up. “My first priority will computer or watch television. With always be to make sure that our girls Michelle by his side, Barack Obama was are healthy and grounded,” Michelle elected for a second term as President said. “Then I want to help other families of the United States in November 2012.

* - Magazine featuring Harvard University graduates and named after its zip code.

22 Today Magazine|Special Edition Special Edition | Today Magazine 23 First Lady Winnie Mandela

First Lady of South Africa (1994 - 1996) Just who is Winnie Mandela? The best way to answer this is to have a look at her past and one will soon see why she became what she is today - someone that people have passionate feelings about. She was born on 26 September 1936 in Bizana, Transkei - now known as part of the Eastern Cape of South Africa. She was one of eight siblings and her mother, apartheid message. After his arrest and on the death row, probably, the then Once again, her home Nomathamsanqa Mzaidume taught imprisonment in 1962, she was banned government’s endeavour to weaken life was tilted upside Home Economics (Domestic Science) at - this meant that she became a prisoner her beliefs. One wonders how the down. The South African a local school. Winnie experienced her within Soweto, the largest township in children coped with an absent father government re-stationed first loss at the tender age of eight when South Africa. In typical Winnie style, and a mother who was victimised in this her in the town of Brandfort and her mother died. Her father worked in she ignored the ban and visited her way. After her release from a Kroonstad there she remained for nine years, the Forestry and Agriculture department husband, Nelson, in prison in Cape prison in 1975, she was part of the enduring assaults on her house and of the Transkei government. Town in 1967. Her reward for this newly formed African National Congress receiving numerous death threats. Winnie attended primary school in was one month’s jail. Women’s League - a movement that Being the strong woman that she was, Bizna and completed her school career Over the years she was banned still has a powerful political voice. It was she again ignored her banning order in Shawbury. She received a diploma in and jailedmany times. At one time not long before the Women’s League and left Brandfort for visits to Soweto social work at the Jan Hofmeyer School she was put into solitary confinement was banned as well - this did not deter - for this she was arrested each time in Johannesburg, Gauteng. Winnie Winnie and her and had to spend time in jail. Cracks had drive and ambition even in those female comrades - appeared in the Mandela marriage - apartheid years and during a time they continued especially after rumours surfaced when women were still oppressed in to struggle of an alleged relationship between South Africa. She was both black AND against the the lady and one of her bodyguards. female. Yet she managed to complete apartheid laws. Nelson Mandela divorced Winnie a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Winnie was Mandela and when he was International Relations, at one of the involved with inaugurated as first democratically- leading universities in South Africa, the Soweto 1976 elected president of South Africa, The University of Witwatersrand, in uprising and was one of his daughters was by his side - Johannesburg. sentenced to jail Winnie wasn’t even invited to share She met a young lawyer, Nelson again - this time, with the podium and immediate Mandela during her early political life, she had to spend interior of the celebrations that they married and she gave birth to their half a year in prison were held on that day - not until, two daughters. Even in the early years and after her Thabo Mbeki (Nelson’s successor) of their marriage, she had to learn to release she was not personally invited her to sit with him survive on her own, as Mandela toured allowed to go back and his wife. Winnie had found a way different townships, passing on the anti- to Soweto. to survive again.

24 Today Magazine|Special Edition Special Edition | Today Magazine 25 Portia Simpson-Miller

First Woman Prime Minister of Jamaica The Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller is Jamaica’s seventh Prime Minister and the first Jamaican woman to serve in that capacity. She was re-elected for the second time, on she used her tremendous influence January 5, 2012. Previously, she took to motivate the Jamaican sporting the oath of Office as Prime Minister community and promoted sports as a on March 30, 2006 until September social unifying force. Simpson Miller was 2007, after having served for 17 years instrumental in creating partnerships as a Cabinet Minister with portfolio between government agencies and Portia Simpson Miller pursued her responsibility for Labour and Social the private sector, to support sports education up to the secondary level in Security, Tourism, Local Government, development in Jamaica. She was Jamaica, before reading for her Bachelor Community Development and Sport, at instrumental in the establishment of of Arts Degree in Public Administration different times. She was conferred with the Sports Development Foundation at the Union Institute and University the Order of the Nation in May 2006. (SDF), which was designed to provide in the United States of America, In 2009, she received the financial assistance to national sporting which later awarded her an Honorary Distinguished Award for her dedication associations, as well as emergency Doctorate. She completed the Executive and commitment to urban renewal financial assistance to national Programme for Leaders in Development and community development from and international-level athletes. As at the prestigious John Kennedy School the Mayor, City of Miami and also Minister of Tourism, Portia Simpson of Government, Harvard University. the Bureau of Women’s Affairs Award Miller was the leading architect of Portia Simpson Miller’s career in for outstanding contribution to the Jamaica’s Master Plan for Sustainable representational politics began in Local advancement of women’s affairs in Tourism Development. The plan Government in 1974 as a Councillor Jamaica. Mrs. Simpson Miller was sets the strategic policy framework of the Kingston and St. Andrew also invited to sit on the board of the for the expansion of the country’s Corporation (KSAC). Simpson Miller United Nations Institute for Training and tourism sector. Her work in deepening made the transition to the House of Research (UNITAR), and is presently a community participation and involving Representatives when she was elected member of the board. communities in policy decision, led Member of Parliament for South During her tenure as a Minister to fundamental reforms in local Western St. Andrew in 1976. She was of Government and before becoming government and the subsequent appointed a Parliamentary Secretary in Prime Minister of Jamaica, Portia establishment of the Portmore the Office of the Prime Minister in 1977. Simpson Miller presided over the most Municipality, with the election of Portia Simpson Miller has the significant expansion of the Jamaican the first and only directly elected distinction of serving as the first Overseas Work Programme and the Mayor in Jamaica and the English- female Vice-President of the People’s unprecedented increase in the National speaking Caribbean. As Parliamentary National Party, a position she held Insurance Fund. Simpson Miller representative for the urban between 1978 and 2006.She was transformed the National Insurance constituency of South Western President of the People’s National Scheme into a major component of the St. Andrew, Portia Simpson Miller has Party Women’s Movement from Government’s social welfare system. been a vigorous campaigner on behalf 1983 to 2006. In February 2006, Portia Simpson Miller’s love of sports of the poor. She is a consistent Simpson Miller became the first woman and Jamaica’s athletes is well-known. advocate for urban renewal and to be elected as head of the People’s As Sports Minister 1989 to 2007, community development. National Party.

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