Anas Sarwar

Anas Sarwar
Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party
In office
17 December 2011 – 13 December 2014
Leader Johann Lamont
Preceded by Johann Lamont
Succeeded by Kezia Dugdale
Member of Parliament
for Glasgow Central
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 May 2010
Majority 10,551 (34.5%)
Personal details
Born 14 March 1983
Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland[1]
Nationality British
Political party Labour
Spouse(s) Furheen Ashrif, since 2006
Children two sons
Alma mater University of Glasgow
Profession Dentist
Religion Islam
Website www.anassarwar.org

Anas Sarwar, MP (born 14 March 1983)[2] is a British Labour Party politician and has been the Member of Parliament for Glasgow Central since 6 May 2010, succeeding his father Mohammad Sarwar, the first-ever Muslim MP in the UK.

Early life

Anas Sarwar was born in Glasgow to Mohammed and Perveen Sarwar. He is the youngest of four siblings.

Education

Sarwar was educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School, an independent school in Glasgow, and studied Dentistry at Glasgow University. He graduated in 2005, becoming an NHS General Dental Practitioner before becoming an MP in 2010.

Political career

Sarwar has been a member of the Scottish Labour Party since the age of 16 and was previously part of the team which campaigned successfully to save Govan Shipbuilders in 1999, collecting more than 80,000 signatures. Sarwar was an executive member of Scottish Young Labour, and joined the Co-operative Party, the Fabian Society and the trade unions Unite and Community.[3] Sarwar is a vice-chair of Progress.[4]

Scottish Parliament election, 2007

For the 2007 Scottish Parliament elections, Sarwar was selected to stand as the number one regional list candidate for the Glasgow region.[5] He was a member of Labour's Scottish Policy Forum which was responsible for drawing-up the Labour manifesto for that election.

Sarwar's attempt to enter Holyrood failed at the election when Labour lost control of the Scottish parliament for the first time.[6]

Member of Parliament

In 2010, Sarwar was elected to represent the Westminster constituency of Glasgow Central on 6 May 2010, increasing the previously held majority.[5] He was later elected by his colleagues to serve on the International Development Select Committee. His parliamentary interests include foreign policy and international development. His specific areas of concern are Palestine and Kashmir.[7]

Sarwar is also Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Anti-Corruption and was a member of the Welfare Reform Bill Committee.[8]

Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party

In December 2011, Sarwar was elected Scottish Labour deputy leader receiving 51.10% of the vote.[9] As the new deputy leader, Sarwar unveiled a four-point plan to change and end factionalism within the party.[10] In 2012, he co-ordinated the Scottish Labour Party's Referendum Campaign.[11]

Following the resignation of Johann Lamont on 25 October 2014, Sarwar became the Acting Leader of the party, until a new leader is elected.

On 30 October he resigned as deputy leader at a Labour Party dinner in Glasgow.

On 5 November, Sarwar was promoted to Shadow Minister of State for International Development.[12]

Controversies

Independent school

In 2014, Sarwar came under criticism for choosing to send his son to Hutchesons' Grammar School, the same independent school that he himself attended, rather than a state school. MSP John Wilson stated: "Anas Sarwar once again highlights the hypocrisy of the Labour Party – talking of social justice and defending public services while sending his own child to a private school"[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Who's Who". Ukwhoswho.com. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  2. ↑ "Anas Sarwar MP". Democracy Live (BBC News). Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  3. ↑ anassarwar.org
  4. ↑ "Chair and Vice-chairs". Progress. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Biography " Anas Sarwar MP | Working Hard for Glasgow Central". Anassarwar.org. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  6. ↑ Peterkin, Tom (18 December 2011). "Anas Sarwar is the brightest of the bright young things – Politics". Scotsman.com. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  7. ↑ "‘I never thought I’d have to fight a political battle for my own country’, says Labour MP".
  8. ↑ "Anas Sarwar". Scottish Labour. 20 February 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  9. ↑ "Johann Lamont named new Scottish Labour leader". BBC News. 17 December 2011.
  10. ↑ "I will end factionalism in party, vows new Scottish Labour deputy leader Anas Sarwar". The Daily Record. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  11. ↑ "Anas Sarwar to co-ordinate Labour’s Scottish Referendum Campaign".
  12. ↑ "Anas Sarwar given new Labour international role". Herald Scotland.
  13. ↑ Labour's deputy leader under fire for sending son to Glasgow private school www.heraldscotland.com, 26 January 2014

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Mohammad Sarwar		 Member of Parliament for Glasgow Central
2010–present 		Incumbent