I am entering politics for the first time because we need MPs to end the failure to run the country, false promises and political incompetence.
My background, values and lifestyle
I was born and raised in East London and have lived in Goodmayes/Seven Kings since I was 4. I am now 40. Like many in my generation my Parents immigrated to the UK, had little wealth, but worked hard, tirelessly and selflessly for me and our family. I went to Goodmayes Primary School and Mayfield School, before going on to study at university in the UK and overseas, at both undergraduate (City, UK) and postgraduate level (including in France and the USA), focussing on law. I am currently undertaking an executive MBA at Cambridge University.
I have worked in a variety of roles in the legal, education (I managed successful programmes that assisted BAME and state school students in schools in London and Birmingham to develop and achieve ambitious career aspirations), NGO and financial sectors.
For the last 13 years I worked in the financial regulatory sector, including spending 3½ years at the UK financial regulator where I negotiated EU banking laws in Brussels and Paris with HM Treasury for the UK to address bad banking behaviour which contributed to the financial crisis. I served as a compliance officer at JP Morgan for the last 5 years and resigned to campaign to represent my home, Ilford South, and to leave the EU which prioritizes global business over individuals and small business. More details can be viewed on my LinkedIn Profile.
I attribute my achievements to the values instilled by my family. My cultural heritage is Hindu Punjabi, though I consider myself and my relationship with God more spiritual in nature. I believe in living a healthy lifestyle, converted to vegetarianism at a young age, and regularly meditate, dry fast, weight train, run and cycle. I love a challenge, and completed a half ironman in 2013 in the highlands of Scotland and the Jurassic Coast Challenge in 2017.
My political leanings
I represent both left and right political views, believing in a strong social policy but knowing, long term, this only sustainable if supported by policies promoting economic growth, innovation and entrepreneurship.
I particularly want to see improvements to the NHS following my experience with my late Father, Shri Ravinder Kumar Sharma, who spent the last few years of his life in an out of hospitals with various serious health issues, including vascular dementia, before he passed away just after Christmas 2018. I understand first-hand how tough it is to care for a loved one suffering from dementia without adequate Government support and believe the whole health debate is currently being crudely politicised.
Education needs improvement. My own experience (including going to the 2nd lowest performing school in Redbridge at the time, when only 20% of students in my school year achieved 4 GCSEs or more) and subsequent work with young students has shown me simply have not done enough with education for young people. We need to improve levels of aspiration among students and provide better direct links between students, businesses and employers.
We need to change politics for good and can do better to acheive real progress. I will use my experience to competently represent us and hold other MPs to account. However, to make a positive change, it starts with your vote. Thank you!
Ilford South Hustings
I and the other Ilford South candidates seeking to be elected to represent Ilford South recently attended a hustings, hosted by local East London radio station Revive FM. You can view a recording of the husting below.