Rushanara Ali

2021-12-29T20:59:35Z

2A02:C7F:E4D0:FE00:4CB0:5617:11:4B72: Tidying up.

{{short description|British Labour politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Rushanara Ali
| native_name = {{nobold|রুশনারা আলী}}
| native_name_lang = bn
| honorific-suffix = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]]
| honorific-prefix =
| image = Official portrait of Rushanara Ali MP crop 2.jpg
| image_size = 220px
| small_image =
| caption = Official portrait, 2019
| office = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br/>for [[Bethnal Green and Bow (UK Parliament constituency)|Bethnal Green and Bow]]
| constituency =
| term_start = 6 May 2010
| term_end =
| predecessor = [[George Galloway]]
| successor =
| majority = 37,524 (62.0%)
| office1 = [[Department for Education|Shadow Minister for Further Education]]
| leader1 = [[Ed Miliband]]
| term_start1 = 8 October 2013
| term_end1 = 26 September 2014
| predecessor1 = [[Tristram Hunt]]
| successor1 = [[Yvonne Fovargue]]
| office2 = [[Department for International Development|Shadow Minister for International Development]]
| leader2 = [[Ed Miliband]]
| term_start2 = 8 October 2010
| term_end2 = 7 October 2013
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|3|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Bishwanath Upazila|Bishwanath]], [[Bangladesh]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| resting_place =
| citizenship = British
| nationality = British<br>Bangladeshi
| party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| otherparty =
| spouse =
| partner =
| relations =
| children =
| parents =
| residence = [[London]]
| alma_mater = [[St John's College, Oxford|St. John’s College]], [[University of Oxford]]<br />[[Tower Hamlets College]]
| occupation =
| profession = Politician
| known_for =
| awards =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| website = {{URL|https://www.rushanaraali.org/}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Rushanara Ali''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MP}} ({{lang-bn|রুশনারা আলী}}; born 14 March 1975) is a British [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] politician serving as the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Bethnal Green and Bow (UK Parliament constituency)|Bethnal Green and Bow]] since [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]].

She served as a Shadow Minister for International Development from 2010 to 2013, and the Shadow Minister for Further Education from 2013 to 2014. In September 2014, Ali resigned from the opposition front bench to abstain on a motion permitting military action in [[Iraq]].

==Early life==
[[File:Rali2.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Ali in 2007]]
Ali was born in [[Bishwanath Upazila|Bishwanath]], [[Sylhet District|Sylhet]], [[Bangladesh]].<ref name="bdnews241">{{cite news|url=http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=1&id=160498|title=UK gets its first Bengali MP|location=Bangladesh|publisher=[[Bdnews24.com]]|date=7 May 2010|access-date=12 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717110208/http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=1&id=160498|archive-date=17 July 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> With her family, Ali emigrated to the [[East End of London]] at the age of seven, where she attended [[Mulberry School for Girls]] and [[Tower Hamlets College]]. She grew up in [[Tower Hamlets]] where her father was a manual labourer.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} The first in her family to go to university, Ali studied [[Philosophy, Politics and Economics]] at [[St John's College, Oxford]].<ref name=sjc-bio>{{cite web |url=https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/alumni/alumni-spotlight/rushanara-ali/ |title=Rushanara Ali |work=Alumni Spotlight |publisher=St John's College, Oxford |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003181734/https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/alumni/alumni-spotlight/rushanara-ali/ |archive-date=3 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Early career==
Ali began her career as a research assistant to [[Michael Young, Baron Young of Dartington|Michael Young]], working on a project which paved the way for the establishment of [[Tower Hamlets Summer University]], offering independent learning programmes for young people aged 11–25. She helped to develop "[[Language Line]]", a national telephone interpreting service in over 100 languages. Between 1997 and 1999 she was parliamentary assistant to [[Oona King]], MP for Bethnal Green and Bow.<ref name=rushanaraali->{{cite web |url=https://www.rushanaraali.org/about_me |title=About Me |publisher=Rushanara Ali MP |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003220856/https://www.rushanaraali.org/about_me |archive-date=3 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ali worked on human rights issues at the [[Foreign Office]] from 2000 to 2001. Prior to this, she was a research fellow at the [[Institute of Public Policy Research]] (IPPR) focussing on anti-discrimination issues from 1999 to 2002. From 2002 to 2005, she worked in the community cohesion unit at the Communities Directorate of the [[Home Office]], leading a work programme to mobilise local and national agencies in the aftermath of the 2001 riots in [[Burnley]], [[2001 Bradford riots|Bradford]] and [[2001 Oldham riots|Oldham]], to prevent further conflict and unrest, challenging central Government to provide appropriate support to these areas.<ref name="bbwhoswho08">{{cite book |last1=Karim|first1=Mohammed Abdul|last2=Karim|first2=Shahadoth|title=British Bangladeshi Who's Who|date=July 2008|publisher=British Bangla Media Group|page=45}}</ref>

Previously, Ali worked as Associate Director of the [[Young Foundation]] in [[Bethnal Green]], a [[thinktank]] focused on [[social innovation]]. She has also served as Chair of [[Tower Hamlets Summer University]]; a commissioner on the London Child Poverty Commission; board member of [[Tower Hamlets College]]; Trustee of the [[Paul Hamlyn]] Foundation; and member of the [[Tate Britain]] Council.<ref name="socialinnovationexchange">{{cite news|url=http://www.socialinnovationexchange.org/user/18|title=Rushanara Ali|publisher=London Child Poverty Commission|access-date=18 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402020300/http://www.socialinnovationexchange.org/user/18|archive-date=2 April 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="213.86.122.139">{{cite web|url=http://213.86.122.139/about/r-ali.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704183508/http://213.86.122.139/about/r-ali.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 July 2011|title=Rushanara Ali|publisher=London Child Poverty Commission|access-date=18 September 2008}}</ref>

Ali has published articles on a variety of political issues in numerous national and local media including ''[[The Guardian]]'', ''[[Prospect (magazine)|Prospect]]'' magazine and ''[[Progress (organisation)|Progress]]'' magazine.<ref name="guardian1">{{cite news|first=Ali|last=Rushanara|url=https://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/feb/20/2|title=Let power reflect the people|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=20 February 2008|access-date=18 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606054534/http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/feb/20/2|archive-date=6 June 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="prospect-magazine1">{{cite news|first=Ali|last=Rushanara|url=http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=7329|title=The Angry East End|publisher=[[Prospect (magazine)|Prospect]]|date=March 2006|access-date=18 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211200150/http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=7329|archive-date=11 December 2007|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="prospect-magazine2">{{cite news|first=Ali|last=Rushanara|url=http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=7532|title=One year later|publisher=[[Prospect (magazine)|Prospect]]|date=July 2006|access-date=18 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027084806/http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=7532|archive-date=27 October 2007|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="progressonline">{{cite news|first=Ali|last=Rushanara|url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/author/rushanara-ali-mp/|title=Articles by Rushanara Ali MP|publisher=Progress|date=July 2006|access-date=24 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024174526/http://www.progressonline.org.uk/author/rushanara-ali-mp/|archive-date=24 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ali has also appeared on [[Question Time (TV series)|Question Time Extra]], [[BBC Radio 4]]'s ''Woman's Hour'' and ''[[Thinking Allowed]]''.<ref name="bbc1">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/02/2008_20_wed.shtml|title=Are more young women happy to vote Conservative?'|publisher=[[BBC Radio 4]]|date=14 May 2008|access-date=18 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080628101324/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/02/2008_20_wed.shtml|archive-date=28 June 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/thinkingallowed/thinkingallowed_20080625.shtml|title=Laurie Taylor discusses the latest social science research.|publisher=[[BBC Radio 4]]|date=25 June 2008|access-date=18 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080628112810/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/thinkingallowed/thinkingallowed_20080625.shtml|archive-date=28 June 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2009, Ali was listed by ''The Guardian'' as one of the most powerful Muslim women in Britain.<ref name="guardian2">{{cite news |url=https://www.guardian.co.uk/society/gallery/2009/mar/25/muslim-women-power-list?lightbox=1|title=Muslim Women Power List|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=25 March 2009|access-date=3 June 2009}}</ref>

==Parliamentary career==
[[File:Rushanara Ali.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Ali at the au Forum Libération de Grenoble in February 2013]]
In April 2007, Ali was chosen as the Labour Party's [[prospective Parliamentary candidate]] for Bethnal Green and Bow. In [[2010 United Kingdom general election|May 2010]], she was elected as a Member of Parliament with a majority of 11,574 votes.<ref name="eastlondonadvertiser1">{{cite news|last=Cooke|first=Phoebe|url=http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/seasonal/election/election-2017-labour-hold-in-tower-hamlets-as-conservatives-lose-majority-1-5054650|title=Rushanara Ali triumphs in an "historical moment" for Bethnal Green and Bow|location=London|publisher=[[East London Advertiser]]|date=7 May 2010|access-date=7 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609103247/http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/seasonal/election/election-2017-labour-hold-in-tower-hamlets-as-conservatives-lose-majority-1-5054650|archive-date=9 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> She is the first person of Bangladeshi origin to have been elected to the House of Commons,<ref name="thisislondon">{{cite news|last=Cooke|first=Phoebe|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/politics/article-23831748-rushanara-ali-becomes-first-bangladeshi-mp.do|title=Rushanara Ali becomes first Bangladeshi MP|publisher=This is London|date=10 May 2010|access-date=11 May 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510214106/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/politics/article-23831748-rushanara-ali-becomes-first-bangladeshi-mp.do|archive-date=10 May 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and along with [[Shabana Mahmood]] and [[Yasmin Qureshi]], became one of the United Kingdom's first female Muslim MPs.<ref name="guardian3">{{cite news|first1=Jo|last1=Adetunji|first2=Mark|last2=Tran|url=https://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/07/general-election-female-muslim-mps|title=General election 2010: first female Muslim MPs elected|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=7 May 2010|access-date=7 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509090226/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/07/general-election-female-muslim-mps|archive-date=9 May 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/election2010/results/constituency/a26.stm|title=BBC News – Election 2010 – Constituency – Bethnal Green & Bow|work=BBC News|date=6 May 2017|access-date=7 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412010337/http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/election2010/results/constituency/a26.stm|archive-date=12 April 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2013, Ali voted in favour of the [[Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013|Same Sex Marriage Bill]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/02/18/peter-tatchell-praises-muslim-mps-for-supporting-equal-marriage-and-blasts-anti-gay-fatwas/|title=Peter Tatchell praises Muslim MPs for supporting equal marriage and blasts anti-gay fatwas|work=PinkNews|date=18 February 2013}}</ref> This drew support from pro-[[LGBT]] activists such as [[Peter Tatchell]], but condemnation from religious figures such as the [[Imams]] of mosques in [[Tooting]] and [[Bradford]].<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/03/08/london-anti-gay-marriage-public-meeting-at-tooting-mosque-in-response-to-muslim-mps-support-for-equal-marriage/|title=London: Anti-gay marriage public meeting at Tooting Mosque in response to Muslim MPs support for equal marriage|work=PinkNews|date=8 March 2013}}</ref> She would later defend a constituent who alleged he was a victim of [[homophobic]] [[hate crime]] after his neighbours sang songs at him with the words "queer", "fairy" and "fag", calling for the case to be reconsidered in a letter to the [[Crown Prosecution Service]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/08/24/london-court-rules-that-song-labelling-gay-men-fairy-and-fag-is-not-homophobic/|title=Court rules that song labelling gay men 'fairy' and 'fag' is not homophobic|work=PinkNews|date=24 August 2017}}</ref>

In April 2013, Ali was appointed a Governor of the UK government funded [[Westminster Foundation for Democracy]].<ref name=wfd-governors>{{cite web|url=http://www.wfd.org/governors-and-patrons/|title=Governors|publisher=Westminster Foundation for Democracy|access-date=22 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719003152/http://www.wfd.org/governors-and-patrons/|archive-date=19 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ali served as Shadow Minister of State for International Development from October 2010 to October 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Parliamentary career for Rushanara Ali - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4138/career|access-date=2021-01-05|website=members.parliament.uk|language=en}}</ref> In the October 2013 Labour frontbench reshuffle, Ali was appointed Shadow Minister of State for Education.<ref name="labourlist">{{cite news|url=http://labourlist.org/2013/10/confirmed-labours-new-frontbench-team-in-full/|title=Confirmed: Labour's new frontbench team in full|publisher=LabourList|date=8 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407070942/https://labourlist.org/2013/10/confirmed-labours-new-frontbench-team-in-full/|archive-date=7 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 26 September 2014, she resigned from the Shadow Education team to abstain on the [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|Coalition government's]] House of Commons motion permitting military action against [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] in Iraq.<ref name="bbc3">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29385123|title=BBC News – MPs support UK air strikes against IS in Iraq|work=BBC News|date=26 September 2014|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413213126/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29385123|archive-date=13 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In a letter to the leader of the party [[Ed Miliband]], she wrote "I appreciate the sincerity of members of parliament from all sides of the House who today support military action against [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIL]]. I know that British Muslims stand united in the total condemnation of the murders that ISIL have committed. However, there is a genuine belief in Muslim and non-Muslim communities that military action will only create further bloodshed and further pain for the people of Iraq."

Ali also told Miliband that she remained totally committed to his leadership and was looking forward to his becoming the prime minister in next eight months' time. In his return letter to Ali, Miliband praised her as 'someone with great ability and talent'. Regretting her departure from the frontbench team, the Labour leader added that he accepted the resignation with due respect to her decision.<ref name="thetimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4218629.ece|title=As it happened: Commons debate on Iraq airstrikes|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=26 September 2014|access-date=29 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030102507/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4218629.ece|archive-date=30 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="bdnews242">{{cite news|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2014/09/26/rushanara-ali-resigns-as-shadow-education-minister-over-vote-on-iraq-military-action|title=Rushanara Ali resigns as shadow education minister over vote on Iraq military action|location=Bangladesh|publisher=[[Bdnews24.com]]|date=26 September 2014|access-date=29 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207071627/http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2014/09/26/rushanara-ali-resigns-as-shadow-education-minister-over-vote-on-iraq-military-action|archive-date=7 December 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ali retained her seat at the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]], doubling her majority to 24,317 and earning a 61% share of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000674|title=Bethnal Green & Bow|work=BBC News|date=7 May 2010|access-date=10 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612091827/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000674|archive-date=12 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2015, she was one of 36 Labour MPs to nominate [[Jeremy Corbyn]] as a candidate in the [[2015 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|Labour leadership election]].<ref name="newstatesman">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/06/who-nominated-who-2015-labour-leadership-election|title=Who nominated who for the 2015 Labour leadership election?|magazine=[[New Statesman]]|date=15 June 2015|access-date=8 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628072303/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/06/who-nominated-who-2015-labour-leadership-election|archive-date=28 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[List of MPs elected in the 2010 United Kingdom general election|2010-2015 parliament]], Ali claimed a total of £674,982 in expenses.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/1-3million-expense-bill-for-tower-hamlets-mps-what-do-they-spend-and-why-1-4290258|title=£1.3million expense bill for Tower Hamlets MPs: What do they spend and why?|first=Emma|last=Youle|work=East London Advertiser|date=30 October 2015}}</ref>

In April 2016, British Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] appointed Ali as UK trade envoy for Bangladesh,<ref name="bdnews243">{{cite news|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2016/04/15/uk-prime-minister-appoints-rushanara-ali-mp-as-trade-envoy-for-bangladesh|title=UK prime minister appoints Rushanara Ali MP as trade envoy for Bangladesh|location=Bangladesh|publisher=[[Bdnews24.com]]|date=15 April 2016|access-date=2 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403111032/http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2016/04/15/uk-prime-minister-appoints-rushanara-ali-mp-as-trade-envoy-for-bangladesh|archive-date=3 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="dhakatribune">{{cite news|url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/editorial/2016/apr/17/uks-trade-envoy-appointment-shows-way|title=UK's trade envoy appointment shows the way|location=Dhaka|newspaper=[[Dhaka Tribune]]|date=17 April 2016|access-date=2 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622220546/http://www.dhakatribune.com/editorial/2016/apr/17/uks-trade-envoy-appointment-shows-way|archive-date=22 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> as part of cross-party trade envoy network.<ref name="prothom-alo">{{cite news|url=http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/101709/Rushanara-selected-UK-trade-envoy-for-Bangladesh|title=Rushanara selected UK trade envoy for Bangladesh|location=Bangladesh|newspaper=[[Prothom Alo]]|date=15 April 2016|access-date=2 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403110502/http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/101709/Rushanara-selected-UK-trade-envoy-for-Bangladesh|archive-date=3 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="newsnextbd">{{cite news|url=http://newsnextbd.com/rushanara-ali-made-british-trade-envoy-for-bangladesh/|title=Rushanara Ali made British trade envoy for Bangladesh|location=Bangladesh|publisher=Newsnextbd.com|date=15 April 2016|access-date=2 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160525114244/http://newsnextbd.com/rushanara-ali-made-british-trade-envoy-for-bangladesh/|archive-date=25 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> She supported [[Owen Smith]] in the failed attempt to replace [[Jeremy Corbyn]] in the [[2016 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2016 leadership Election]], calling on Corbyn to "do the decent thing" and quit as Labour leader.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2016/07/which-mps-and-meps-have-nominated-owen-smith/|title=Full list of MPs and MEPs backing challenger Owen Smith|date=2016-07-21|website=LabourList|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715214543/https://labourlist.org/2016/07/which-mps-and-meps-have-nominated-owen-smith/|archive-date=15 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/london-mp-rushanara-ali-tells-jeremy-corbyn-do-the-decent-thing-and-quit-a3283791.html|title=London MPtells Jeremy Corbyn: Do the decent thing and quit|date=29 June 2016|work=Evening Standard}}</ref>

Ali campaigned to remain in the [[European Union]] in the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 membership referendum]] and in 2017 voted against the triggering of Article 50.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2017/02/house-commons-votes-trigger-article-50-494-122-full-list-labour-rebels|title=House of Commons votes to trigger Article 50 by 494 to 122: the full list of Labour rebels|last=Bush|first=Stephen|date=8 February 2017|magazine=New Statesman|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902215416/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2017/02/house-commons-votes-trigger-article-50-494-122-full-list-labour-rebels|archive-date=2 September 2019|access-date=30 October 2019}}</ref>

In June 2017, in the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|general election]], Ali retained her seat with an increased majority of 35,393.<ref name="bbc4">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000674|title=Ealing Central & Acton Parliamentary constituency|work=BBC News|date=9 June 2017|access-date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612091827/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000674|archive-date=12 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="standard">{{cite news|last=De Peyer|first=Robin|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/bethnal-green-and-bow-election-results-who-is-the-mp-for-the-constituency-after-the-general-election-a3546986.html|title=Bethnal Green and Bow election results: Labour's Rushanara Ali wins|location=London|newspaper=[[London Evening Standard]]|date=9 June 2017|access-date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612005752/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/bethnal-green-and-bow-election-results-who-is-the-mp-for-the-constituency-after-the-general-election-a3546986.html|archive-date=12 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="eastlondonadvertiser2">{{cite news|last=Cooke|first=Phoebe|url=http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/seasonal/election/election-2017-labour-hold-in-tower-hamlets-as-conservatives-lose-majority-1-5054650|title=Election 2017: Labour hold in Tower Hamlets as Conservatives lose majority|publisher=[[East London Advertiser]]|date=9 June 2017|access-date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609103247/http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/seasonal/election/election-2017-labour-hold-in-tower-hamlets-as-conservatives-lose-majority-1-5054650|archive-date=9 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2018, Ali received a suspicious package containing an [[Islamophobia|anti-Islamic]] letter and sticky liquid.<ref name="eastlondonadvertiser3">{{cite news|last=Brooke|first=Mike|url=http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/suspect-package-sent-to-bethnal-green-bow-mp-rushanara-ali-and-four-other-muslim-mps-1-5432744|title=Suspect package sent to Bethnal Green & Bow MP Rushanara Ali and three other Muslim MPs|location=London|publisher=[[East London Advertiser]]|date=14 March 2018|access-date=1 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401213421/http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/suspect-package-sent-to-bethnal-green-bow-mp-rushanara-ali-and-four-other-muslim-mps-1-5432744|archive-date=1 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The substance was later found to be harmless. Similar packages were received by fellow Labour MPs [[Mohammad Yasin (politician)|Mohammad Yasin]], [[Rupa Huq]] and [[Afzal Khan (British politician)|Afzal Khan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43387152|title=Third MP gets Islamophobic letter|work=[[BBC News]]|date=13 March 2018|access-date=1 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405050907/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43387152|archive-date=5 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="theguardian">{{cite news|last=Elgot|first=Jessica|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/mar/13/police-investigate-new-suspicious-package-sent-mp-rupa-huq-westminster|title=Four Muslim MPs receive suspicious packages at Westminster|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=13 March 2018|access-date=1 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401213735/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/mar/13/police-investigate-new-suspicious-package-sent-mp-rupa-huq-westminster|archive-date=1 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2018, Ali signed the 'MPs not border guards' pledge, committing to not report constituents to the [[Home Office]] for immigration enforcement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.globaljustice.org.uk/mps-not-border-guards-pledge-signatories|title=MPs not border guards - pledge signatories|date=12 June 2018|website=Global Justice Now}}</ref>

As of 2019, Ali is part of the executive committee of the [[British-American Project]].<ref name=bap-ukexec>{{cite web |url=https://britishamericanproject.org/about-bap/meet-the-uk-team/ |title=Meet the UK team - Executive Committee |publisher=British-American Project |access-date=9 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190309234805/https://britishamericanproject.org/about-bap/meet-the-uk-team/ |archive-date=9 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2019, in the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|general election]], Ali retained her seat with an increased majority of 37,524.

In early 2020, Ali supported [[Keir Starmer]] in the [[2020 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2020 Labour Party leadership election]].

In March 2020, Ali was one of 76 Labour MPs to urge that the government grant recourse to public funds for all migrants in the UK regardless of their legal status.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2020/03/76-labour-mps-urge-pause-on-no-recourse-to-public-funds-migrant-status/|title=76 Labour MPs urge pause on 'no recourse to public funds' migrant status|first=Sienna|last=Rodgers|website=LabourList}}</ref>

In March 2020 during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], she defended the closure of [[Victoria Park, London|Victoria Park]] in her constituency.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/health/victoria-park-closure-leads-to-raft-of-complaints-from-locals-1-6582469|title=Victoria Park closure provokes huge criticism from Tower Hamlets residents|first=Cash|last=Boyle|work=East London Advertiser|date=27 March 2020}}</ref>

In March 2021, a 42-year-old man was sentenced after orchestrating an 18-month hate campaign against Ali which included death threats.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rushanara Ali: 'End of distressing period' for MP after 'stream of abuse' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-56361297 |access-date=12 March 2021 |work=BBC News |date=11 March 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of British Bangladeshis]]
* [[List of ethnic minority politicians in the United Kingdom]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|http://www.rushanaraali.org}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081120002015/http://www.towerhamlets.labour.co.uk/ Tower Hamlets Labour Party]
* {{UK MP links | parliament = rushanara-ali/4138 | hansardcurr =  | guardian = 11344/rushanara-ali | publicwhip = Rushanara_Ali | theywork = rushanara_ali | record = Rushanara-Ali/Bethnal-Green-and-Bow/1227 | bbc = 58561.stm | journalisted = }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100627175832/http://yourdemocracy.newstatesman.com/profile/rushanara-ali Rushanara Ali] on ''[[New Statesman]]''
* [http://www.mridubhashan.com/page.php?news_id=4694 সিলেটের মেয়ে রুশনারা বিপুল ভোটে পুনর্নির্বাচিত]
* {{C-SPAN|rushanaraali}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{s-bef|before=[[George Galloway]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for [[Bethnal Green and Bow (UK Parliament constituency)|Bethnal Green and Bow]]|years=[[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]]–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{London Labour Party MPs}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali, Rushanara}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of St John's College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Alumni of Tower Hamlets College]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi emigrants to England]]
[[Category:British people of Bangladeshi descent]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi Muslims]]
[[Category:British Muslims]]
[[Category:British politicians of Bangladeshi descent]]
[[Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies]]
[[Category:Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]]
[[Category:21st-century British women politicians]]
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:People associated with the Tate galleries]]
[[Category:People educated at Mulberry School for Girls]]
[[Category:People from Bishwanath Upazila]]
[[Category:People from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets]]
[[Category:The Guardian people]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2010–2015]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2015–2017]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2017–2019]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2019–present]]
[[Category:21st-century English women]]
[[Category:21st-century English people]]
[[Category:21st-century Bangladeshi women politicians]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Rushanara Ali