Shailesh Vara: Difference between revisions

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→Political career: Factual correction. It wasn’t an aborted candidacy - Raab was eliminated from the contest in the ballot rounds. Unsuccessful Is a better term.
 
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{{Short description|British Conservative politician}}
{{Short description|British Conservative politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =  
| honorific-prefix   = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name = Shailesh Vara
| name               = Shailesh Vara
| honorific-suffix = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]]
| honorific-suffix   =  
| image = Official portrait of Mr Shailesh Vara MP crop 2.jpg
| image               = Official portrait of Mr Shailesh Vara MP crop 2.jpg
| caption = Vara in 2020
| caption             = Official portrait, 2020
| office = [[Minister of State, Northern Ireland|Minister of State for Northern Ireland]]
| office             = [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]]
| term_start = 9 January 2018
| term_start          = 7 July 2022
| term_end = 15 November 2018
| term_end            = 6 September 2022
| predecessor = [[Chloe Smith]]
| predecessor        = [[Brandon Lewis]]
| successor = [[John Penrose]]
| successor          = [[Chris Heaton-Harris]]
| primeminister = [[Theresa May]]
| office1            = [[Minister of State for Northern Ireland]]
| office1 = [[Department of Work and Pensions|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions]]
| term_start1        = 9 January 2018
| term_start1 = 8 May 2015
| term_end1          = 15 November 2018
| term_end1 = 17 July 2016
| predecessor1        = [[Chloe Smith]]
| predecessor1 = ''Position established''
| successor1          = [[John Penrose]]
| successor1 = [[Caroline Nokes]]
| primeminister1      = [[Theresa May]]
| primeminister1 ={{ubl|[[David Cameron]]|[[Theresa May]]}}
| office2            = [[Department for Work and Pensions|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions]]
| office2 = [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Courts and Legal Aid]]
| term_start2        = 8 May 2015
| predecessor2 = [[Helen Grant (politician)|Helen Grant]]
| term_end2          = 17 July 2016
| successor2 = [[Sam Gyimah]]
| predecessor2        = ''Office established''
| primeminister2 = [[David Cameron]]
| successor2          = [[Caroline Nokes]]
| term_start2 = 7 October 2013
| primeminister2      = [[David Cameron]]
| term_end2 = 17 July 2016
| office3            = [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Courts and Legal Aid]]
| office4 ={{ubl|[[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]|for [[North West Cambridgeshire (UK Parliament constituency)|North West Cambridgeshire]]}}
| predecessor3        = [[Helen Grant (politician)|Helen Grant]]
| parliament4 =  
| successor3          = [[Sam Gyimah]]
| majority4 = 25,983 (40.3%)
| primeminister3      = [[David Cameron]]
| predecessor4 = [[Brian Mawhinney]]
| term_start3        = 7 October 2013
| successor4 =  
| term_end3          = 13 July 2016
| term_start4 = 5 May 2005
| office4             = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[North West Cambridgeshire]]
| term_end4 =  
| parliament4         =  
| birth_name = Shailesh Lakhman Vara
| majority4           =  
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1960|9|4}}
| predecessor4       = [[Brian Mawhinney]]
| birth_place = [[Uganda Protectorate]]
| successor4         = [[Sam Carling]]
| death_date =  
| term_start4         = 5 May 2005
| death_place =
| term_end4           = 30 May 2024
| nationality = British
| birth_name         = Shailesh Lakhman Vara
| spouse =  
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1960|9|4}}
| party = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| birth_place         = [[Uganda Protectorate]]
| relations =  
| nationality        = [[Ugandan]]<br>[[British people|British]]
| children =  
| spouse             =  
| residence =  
| party               = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| alma_mater = [[Brunel University]]
| relations           =  
| occupation =  
| children           =  
| profession = [[Solicitor]]
| residence           =  
| signature =  
| education          = [[Aylesbury Grammar School]]
| website = [http://www.shaileshvara.com/ www.shaileshvara.com]
| alma_mater         = [[Brunel University]] ([[LLB]])
| footnotes =  
| occupation         =  
| profession         = [[Solicitor]]
| signature           =  
| website             = [http://www.shaileshvara.com/ www.shaileshvara.com]
| footnotes           =
| primeminister      = [[Boris Johnson]]
| office5            = Assistant Government Whip
| primeminister5      = David Cameron
| term_start5        = 12 May 2010
| term_end5          = 6 September 2012
}}
}}


'''Shailesh Lakhman Vara''' (born 4 September 1960) is a Ugandan-British politician. He has served as a member of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] and [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[North West Cambridgeshire (UK Parliament constituency)|North West Cambridgeshire]] since the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]], succeeding [[Brian Mawhinney]] as the Conservative MP for the seat. Vara is a former Vice-Chairman of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]].
'''Shailesh Lakhman Vara''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʃ|aɪ|l|ɛ|ʃ|_|ˈ|v|ɑː|ɹ|ə|}},<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/C88yAa6svYJ |title=A proven record of delivery for taking a very tough line on law and order and anti-social behaviour. |date=2024-07-03 |last=Rt Hon Shailesh Vara |access-date=2024-12-14 |via=Instagram}}</ref> born 4 September 1960) is a British [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] former politician who was the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[North West Cambridgeshire]] from [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]] until [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]. He was the UK's first Hindu MP. He also served as [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]] from July to September 2022.


In 2006, he was appointed to the shadow ministerial post of [[Shadow Leader of the House of Commons|Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons]]. He previously held [[Parliamentary Under Secretary of State]] roles at the [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Justice]] and [[Department of Work and Pensions]], before being appointed to the [[Northern Ireland Office]] (NIO) under [[Karen Bradley]] in January 2018. Vara resigned as an NIO minister in November 2018 over the Government's proposed [[Brexit]] agreement.
In 2006 he was appointed to the shadow ministerial post of [[Shadow Leader of the House of Commons|Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons]] by [[David Cameron]]. Vara served in the [[Premiership of David Cameron|Cameron government]] and was the conservative party's first ethnic minority minister in the House of Commons when in May 2010, he was appointed to the government front bench as an Assistant Whip. On May 15, 2012, he became the first ethnic minority to speak for the conservatives from the Dispatch Box when he stepped in at Justice Questions when two Justice Ministers ( Ken Clarke, Lord Chancellor and Nick Herbert, Minister of State) were unable to attend. He was also [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Courts and Legal Aid]] from 2013 to 2016 and as [[Department for Work and Pensions|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions]] from 2015 to 2016. He returned to the [[backbenches]] in July 2016, having been removed from his positions by the new prime minister [[Theresa May]]. In the [[2018 British cabinet reshuffle|January 2018 reshuffle]], he re-entered government as [[Minister of State]] at the [[Northern Ireland Office]] (NIO), serving under [[Karen Bradley]]. In November 2018, Vara resigned from this role in opposition to May's [[Brexit withdrawal agreement|draft Brexit withdrawal agreement]]. During the [[July 2022 United Kingdom government crisis]], Vara was appointed by [[Boris Johnson]] as [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]] but was dismissed by [[Liz Truss]] on 6 September 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Liz Truss - live updates: Truss outlines three priorities as PM - as Raab and Shapps confirm departure |url=https://news.sky.com/story/liz-truss-prime-minister-live-updates-picks-cabinet-boris-johnson-12593360 |access-date=6 September 2022 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref>


==Early life==
In 2014, Vara was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. It is the highest award for Indian origin persons living abroad. Vara received the award for promoting ties between the UK and India, and for being the first Indian origin minister for the Conservative party.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-01-21 |title=Former CF India Chairman awarded highest award given to a NRI by the Indian Goverment[sic] |url=https://www.conservativefriendsofindia.co.uk/news/former-cf-india-chairman-awarded-highest-award-given-nri-indian-goverment |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=Conservative Friends |language=en}}</ref>
Born in [[Uganda]] to [[Gujarati people|Gujarati]] Indian immigrants, Vara moved to Britain with his family in 1964 when he was four and had a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] upbringing.<ref>[https://www.timesofindia.com/world/uk/15-indian-origin-mps-in-new-uk-parliament/amp_articleshow/72550708.cms ]{{dead link|date=October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=British Law Minister Shailesh Vara's India visit to carry forward UK-India legal links|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/british-law-minister-shailesh-varas-india-visit-to-carry-forward-uk-india-legal-links|website=www.gov.uk|access-date=20 October 2015|quote=The Minister already has close links to India. A Gujarati speaker, he was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the Indian Government earlier this year. He is also the first person of Gujarati origin to serve as a British Government Minister.}}</ref> Educated at [[Aylesbury Grammar School]] and [[Brunel University]], Vara qualified as a [[solicitor]].


He worked in the City and West End of London, and during 1989–1990, in [[Hong Kong]].<ref>[http://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/grant-shuffled-pm-names-ex-city-solicitor-new-justice-minister Grant shuffled out as PM names ex-City solicitor as new justice minister], ''Legal Futures'', 7 October 2013</ref> Vara has been a senior legal adviser and business consultant for London First, and is vice-president of the [[Small Business Bureau]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/oct/10/houseofcommons.uk House of Commons, Class of 2005], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 10 October 2005</ref>
==Early life and career==
Shailesh Vara was born on 4 September 1960 in [[Uganda]] to [[Gujarati people|Gujarati]] [[India]]n immigrants. He moved to Britain with his family in 1964 and had a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] upbringing.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/15-indian-origin-mps-in-new-uk-parliament/articleshow/72550708.cms|title=15 Indian-origin MPs in new UK Parliament|newspaper=The Times of India |date=14 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=British Law Minister Shailesh Vara's India visit to carry forward UK-India legal links|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/british-law-minister-shailesh-varas-india-visit-to-carry-forward-uk-india-legal-links|website=www.gov.uk|access-date=20 October 2015|quote=The Minister already has close links to India. A Gujarati speaker, he was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the Indian Government earlier this year. He is also the first person of Gujarati origin to serve as a British Government Minister.}}</ref> Vara went to [[Aylesbury Grammar School]], before studying law at [[Brunel University]], where he qualified as a [[solicitor]].
 
He worked in the [[City of London]] and [[West End of London]], as well as in [[Hong Kong]] from 1989-1990.<ref>[http://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/grant-shuffled-pm-names-ex-city-solicitor-new-justice-minister Grant shuffled out as PM names ex-City solicitor as new justice minister], ''Legal Futures'', 7 October 2013</ref> Vara has been a senior legal adviser and business consultant for [[London First]], and is a former vice-president of the Small Business Bureau.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/oct/10/houseofcommons.uk House of Commons, Class of 2005], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 10 October 2005</ref>


==Political career==
==Political career==
Vara has been involved with the Conservative Party since the late 1980s and has held various posts at local, regional and national levels. As Vice-Chairman of the Party, he had a broad range of responsibilities. These included advising [[Michael Howard]], deputising for the Party chairman, party spokesman with the media and looking after [[Conservative Future]] (which comprises the 10,000 or so people in the party under 30).
Vara has been involved with the Conservative Party since the late 1980s and has held various posts at local, regional and national levels. He served as a Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2001 to 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/1496/career|title=Parliamentary career for Shailesh Vara - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament}}</ref> In this position, he had a broad range of responsibilities, including advising [[Michael Howard]], deputising for the Party chairman, party spokesman with the media and looking after [[Conservative Future]] (which comprises the 10,000 or so people in the party under 30).
 
Since the 1990s Vara spoke frequently at Party Conferences including opening key debates on the economy and law and order.
 
At the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]], Vara stood in [[Birmingham Ladywood]], coming second with 13.3% of the vote behind the incumbent [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] MP [[Clare Short]].<ref name="electoralcalculus1997">{{cite web |title=Election Data 1997 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054424/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=1 May 1992 |title=UK General Election results May 1997 |url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/constit/087.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228094731/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/constit/087.htm |archive-date=28 February 2014 |access-date=12 May 2012 |work=Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources |publisher=Politics Resources}}</ref>
 
At the Conservative Party Conference in 2000, he was awarded the accolade of official "rising star" of the Party, with [[Lord Alexander of Weedon]] describing him as a "future Conservative Party leader".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/news/vote2001/hi/english/newsid_1346000/1346506.stm 'Rising star' hopes for Westminster ascent], ''[[BBC News]]'', 28 May 2001</ref>
 
Vara stood in [[Northampton South]] in the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]], coming second with 41.1% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP [[Tony Clarke (British politician)|Tony Clarke]].<ref name="electoralcalculus2001">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2001 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref>
 
In November 2000, Clarke caused controversy when he said his chances of success against Vara were increased because Vara, as a Ugandan born Hindu, was "unable to rely on the Asian vote" in a town with Muslim communities. Clarke added that "the 20% rural [vote] have shown themselves in the past to be quite racist in their voting."<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Sarah |last2=correspondent |first2=political |date=2000-11-18 |title=Labour MP calls voters 'quite racist' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/nov/18/uk.race |access-date=2025-09-18 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
 
== Parliamentary career ==
At the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]], Vara was elected to Parliament as MP for [[North West Cambridgeshire]] with 45.8% of the vote and a majority of 9,833.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC NEWS {{!}} Election 2005 {{!}} Results {{!}} Cambridgeshire North West |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/vote2005/html/118.stm |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>
 
The ''Breast Cancer Bill'' was Vara's chosen issue after he was one of 20 MPs who were selected at random to introduce a [[private member's bill]] to the House of Commons in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |title=Breast Cancer Bill |url=http://www.shaileshvara.com/breastcancer/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715021941/http://www.shaileshvara.com/breastcancer/ |archive-date=15 July 2007 |access-date=28 December 2014 |publisher=Shailesh Vara MP}}</ref> He has campaigned to broaden the age of routine breast cancer screening for women from 50–70 age group to 45–75 years. The proposal was not supported by the then Labour government, which Vara claimed effectively blocked its progress by talking through to the end of the debate.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vara |first1=Shailesh |title=Government Blocks Breast Cancer Bill |url=http://www.shaileshvara.com/content/government-blocks-varas-breast-cancer-bill |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402123937/http://www.shaileshvara.com/content/government-blocks-varas-breast-cancer-bill |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=23 March 2015}}</ref>
 
Vara gave his backing to ''[[Breast Cancer Campaign]]''{{'}}s (BCC) award-winning national "wear it pink" day, and showed his support for breast cancer charity [[Breakthrough Breast Cancer]] at a meeting in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]].<ref>[http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/latest-news/wear-it-pink-for-cancer-campaign-1-68101 Wear it pink for cancer campaign] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123239/http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/latest-news/wear-it-pink-for-cancer-campaign-1-68101|date=4 March 2016}}, ''[[Peterborough Telegraph]]'', 24 October 2006</ref>
 
At the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], Vara was re-elected as MP for North West Cambridgeshire with an increased vote share of 50.5% and an increased majority of 16,677.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/d29.stm Cambridgeshire North West], BBC News</ref><ref>[http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/cambridgeshirenorthwest Cambridgeshire North-West] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702075857/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/cambridgeshirenorthwest/ |date=2 July 2022 }}, UKPollingReport</ref> He was again re-elected at the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]] with an increased vote share of 52.5% and an increased majority of 19,795.<ref name="electoralcalculus">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cambridgeshire North West parliamentary constituency - Election 2015 - BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000855 |access-date=8 May 2015}}</ref>


Vara was elected Member of Parliament for [[North West Cambridgeshire (UK Parliament constituency)|North West Cambridgeshire]] in May 2005. He had previously contested the [[Birmingham Ladywood (UK Parliament constituency)|Birmingham Ladywood]] seat at the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]], which Labour's [[Clare Short]] won easily, and [[Northampton South (UK Parliament constituency)|Northampton South]] in the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]], which Vara failed to win by only 885 votes.
Vara was opposed to [[Brexit]] prior to the [[2016 Brexit referendum]] in June 2016.<ref>{{cite news |date=22 June 2016 |title=EU vote: Where the cabinet and other MPs stand |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35616946 |work=BBC News}}</ref>


At the Conservative Party Conference in 2000, he was awarded the accolade of official "rising star" of the Party, with [[Robert Alexander, Baron Alexander of Weedon|Lord Alexander of Weedon]] describing him as a "future Conservative Party leader".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/news/vote2001/hi/english/newsid_1346000/1346506.stm 'Rising star' hopes for Westminster ascent], ''[[BBC News]]'', 28 May 2001</ref>
At the snap [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], Vara was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 58.6% and a decreased majority of 18,008.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 May 2017 |title=Candidates standing in the General Election in Cambridgeshire |url=http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2017-05-12/candidates-standing-in-the-general-election-in-cambridgeshire/}}</ref>


In the run-up to the 2001 general election, Vara was a member of the Party's manifesto teams for Law and Order and Legal Affairs.
Early on 15 November 2018, Vara announced his resignation as a Northern Ireland Minister on [[Twitter]], posting his letter of resignation. His resignation followed the previous day's marathon-length cabinet meeting to discuss the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-46219496|title=Brexit deal: NIO Minister of State Shailesh Vara resigns|date=15 November 2018|work=BBC News|last1=McCormack|first1=Jayne}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=15 November 2018 |title=READ IN FULL: Shailesh Vara's resignation letter to Theresa May over 'half-way house' Brexit deal |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/foreign-affairs/brexit/news/99866/read-full-shailesh-varas-resignation-letter-theresa-may}}</ref>


On 30 June 2016, Vara confirmed his support for [[Michael Gove]] in the impending Conservative leadership contest. Vara said "I have worked very closely with Michael Gove at the [[Ministry of Justice]] and have been very impressed with him. He is a man of conviction with a very sharp intellect. He cares passionately about Britain and I believe he has the necessary qualities to lead our negotiations with the EU."
In the 2019 Conservative leadership election, he initially backed the ultimately unsuccessful candidacy of [[Dominic Raab]].<ref>{{cite web |date=17 June 2019 |title=Peterborough MP Shailesh Vara backs Dominic Raab as next Prime Minister |url=https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/politics/peterborough-mp-shailesh-vara-backs-dominic-raab-as-next-prime-minister-1-8966399 |access-date=21 October 2020 |publisher=Peterborough Telegraph}}</ref>


In the 2019 Conservative leadership election, he initially backed the ultimately unsuccessful candidacy of Dominic Raab.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/politics/peterborough-mp-shailesh-vara-backs-dominic-raab-as-next-prime-minister-1-8966399 |title=Peterborough MP Shailesh Vara backs Dominic Raab as next Prime Minister |publisher=Peterborough Telegraph |date=2019-06-17 |access-date=2020-10-21}}</ref>
At the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], Vara was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 62.5% and an increased majority of 25,983.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cambridgeshire North West Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000855 |access-date=19 November 2019 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC}}</ref>


===Breast Cancer Bill===
In November 2019, Vara stood unsuccessfully for the role of Speaker of the House of Commons.<ref>{{cite web | title=House of Commons Speaker hustings 2019 | url=https://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/events/house-of-commons-speaker-hustings-2019 }}</ref>
The ''Breast Cancer Bill'' was Vara's chosen issue after he was one of 20 MPs who were selected at random to introduce a [[private member's bill]] to the House of Commons in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Breast Cancer Bill|url=http://www.shaileshvara.com/breastcancer/|publisher=Shailesh Vara MP|access-date=28 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715021941/http://www.shaileshvara.com/breastcancer/|archive-date=15 July 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He has campaigned to broaden the age of routine breast cancer screening for women from the present 50–70 age group to 45–75 years. The proposal was not supported by the government, which Vara claimed effectively blocked its progress by talking through to the end of the debate.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Vara|first1=Shailesh|title=Government Blocks Breast Cancer Bill|url=http://www.shaileshvara.com/content/government-blocks-varas-breast-cancer-bill|access-date=23 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402123937/http://www.shaileshvara.com/content/government-blocks-varas-breast-cancer-bill|archive-date=2 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>


Vara has given his backing to ''[[Breast Cancer Campaign]]'''s (BCC) award-winning national "wear it pink" day, and showed his support for breast cancer charity [[Breakthrough Breast Cancer]] at a meeting in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]].<ref>[http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/latest-news/wear-it-pink-for-cancer-campaign-1-68101 Wear it pink for cancer campaign], ''[[Peterborough Evening Telegraph|Peterborough Telegraph]]'', 24 October 2006</ref>
Following the State Opening of Parliament by HM Queen Elizabeth II on 11 March 2021, Vara had the honour, usually reserved for a senior parliamentarian, to propose the Loyal Address, starting the five day Queen's speech debate at the start of a new Parliamentary session. The speech is normally delivered to a packed House of Commons but uniquely, on this occasion, during the COVID pandemic, Vara spoke of the "dark shadow" of the pandemic as he addressed a much smaller number of MP's, all socially distanced and wearing safety masks <ref>.https://www.shaileshvara.com/parliament/vara-moves-loyal-address</ref>


===Resignation as Northern Ireland Minister===
On 7 July 2022, Vara was appointed as [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]] by outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, replacing [[Brandon Lewis]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ministerial appointments: July 2022 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-july-2022 |access-date=7 July 2022 |website=GOV.UK |date=7 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref> He was sworn as a member of [[Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council]] on 8 July, entitling him to the style "[[The Right Honourable]]" for life.<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Business 8th July 2022 |url=https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022-07-08-List-of-Business.pdf |website=Privy Council of the United Kingdom |access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> He was dismissed by Liz Truss on 6 September.
Early on 15 November 2018, Vara announced his resignation as a Northern Ireland Minister on [[Twitter]], posting his letter of resignation. His resignation followed the previous day's marathon-length cabinet meeting to discuss the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-46219496|title=Brexit deal: NIO Minister of State Shailesh Vara resigns|date=15 November 2018|work=BBC News|last1=McCormack|first1=Jayne}}</ref>


Vara was opposed to [[Brexit]] prior to the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|referendum on the UK's continued EU membership]] in June 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35616946|title=EU vote: Where the cabinet and other MPs stand|date=22 June 2016|work=BBC News}}</ref> However, Vara resigned from his role at the Northern Ireland Office as he did not believe the Government's proposed exit agreement honoured the outcome of the referendum.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/foreign-affairs/brexit/news/99866/read-full-shailesh-varas-resignation-letter-theresa-may | title=READ IN FULL: Shailesh Vara's resignation letter to Theresa May over 'half-way house' Brexit deal| date=15 November 2018}}</ref>
In May 2024, Vara presented a New Bhagavad Gita, one of Hinduism's most sacred texts to the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP. The Gita was blessed at a temple in Mayapur India, and following the July 2024 general election it has been used by Hindu MPs taking the oath of allegiance to the Crown, before taking their seats in Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sacred Hindu text presented to the House of Commons |url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2024/may/sacred-hindu-text-presented-to-the-house-of-commons/ |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=www.parliament.uk |language=en}}</ref>
 
At the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], Vara lost his seat by 39 votes to Labour's Sam Carling.<ref>{{Cite web |title=North West Cambridgeshire 2024 Election Results |url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/north-west-cambridgeshire-general-election-29353022|access-date=2024-07-05|website=Cambridge News |date=5 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Vara has a [[Black belt (martial arts)|black belt]] in [[Tae Kwon Do]].<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/new-model-tories-tory-tribes-416814.html New Model Tories: Tory tribes], ''[[The Independent]]'', ].</ref>
Vara has a [[Black belt (martial arts)|black belt]] in [[taekwondo]]; and is a former instructor of the martial art. He is married to Beverley and has two sons, Sam and Max.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-09-23 |title=New Model Tories: Tory tribes |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/new-model-tories-tory-tribes-416814.html |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>
He has appeared in the Oscar winning film The Iron Lady.
 
He had a brief appearance in the Oscar winning film the "Iron Lady", starring Meryl Streep; and is mentioned in the credits.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shailesh Vara |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2491920/ |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>


==See also==
Vara was made an Honorary fellow of Brunel University in 2010.<ref>Vara was made an Honorary fellow of Brunel University in 2010.</ref>
*[[Conservative Future]]
*[[North West Cambridgeshire (UK Parliament constituency)]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|40em}}
{{Reflist|40em}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2024/may/sacred-hindu-text-presented-to-the-house-of-commons/ |title=Sacred Hindu text presented to the House of Commons |publisher=UK Parliament |date=2024-05-24}}
* {{cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2012-05-15/debates/12051580000004/OralAnswersToQuestions#contribution-12051580000070 |title=Oral Answers to Questions |publisher=UK Parliament |date=2012-05-15}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.shaileshvara.com/ Official website]
*[http://www.shaileshvara.com/ Official website]
*{{UK MP links |parliament=mr-shailesh-vara/1496 |publicwhip=Shailesh_Vara |theywork=shailesh_vara}}
*{{UK MP links |parliament=mr-shailesh-vara/1496 |publicwhip=Shailesh_Vara |theywork=shailesh_vara}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050607125553/https://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=people.person.page&personID=34377  Conservative Party – Shailesh Vara ]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050607125553/https://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=people.person.page&personID=34377  Conservative Party – Shailesh Vara ]
*[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-6040,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics – Ask Aristotle: Shailesh Vara MP]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20010726234429/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-6040,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics – Ask Aristotle: Shailesh Vara MP]
*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/election/constituency/0,,200-674,00.html The Times : Election 2005 ]
*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/election/constituency/0,,200-674,00.html The Times : Election 2005 ]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
*[https://www.theguardian.com/g2/story/0,3604,1588476,00.html Guardian – Class of 2005]
*[https://www.theguardian.com/g2/story/0,3604,1588476,00.html Guardian – Class of 2005]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070312112412/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/05/03/nelec803.xml Telegraph – Vara Interview ]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070312112412/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2005%2F05%2F03%2Fnelec803.xml Telegraph – Vara Interview ]


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{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for [[North West Cambridgeshire]]|years=[[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]]–[[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]}}
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[[Category:British male taekwondo practitioners]]
[[Category:British male taekwondo practitioners]]
[[Category:Secretaries of state for Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]]

Latest revision as of 14:32, 26 February 2026


The Right Honourable
Shailesh Vara
Official portrait, 2020
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
In office
7 July 2022 – 6 September 2022
Prime MinisterBoris Johnson
Preceded byBrandon Lewis
Succeeded byChris Heaton-Harris
Minister of State for Northern Ireland
In office
9 January 2018 – 15 November 2018
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Preceded byChloe Smith
Succeeded byJohn Penrose
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
In office
8 May 2015 – 17 July 2016
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byCaroline Nokes
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Courts and Legal Aid
In office
7 October 2013 – 13 July 2016
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byHelen Grant
Succeeded bySam Gyimah
Member of Parliament
for North West Cambridgeshire
In office
5 May 2005 – 30 May 2024
Preceded byBrian Mawhinney
Succeeded bySam Carling
Assistant Government Whip
In office
12 May 2010 – 6 September 2012
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Personal details
Born
Shailesh Lakhman Vara

(1960-09-04) 4 September 1960 (age 65)
Uganda Protectorate
NationalityUgandan
British
Political partyConservative
EducationAylesbury Grammar School
Alma materBrunel University (LLB)
ProfessionSolicitor
Websitewww.shaileshvara.com

Shailesh Lakhman Vara (/ˈʃaɪlɛʃ ˈvɑːrə/,[1] born 4 September 1960) is a British Conservative former politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Cambridgeshire from 2005 until 2024. He was the UK's first Hindu MP. He also served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from July to September 2022.

In 2006 he was appointed to the shadow ministerial post of Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons by David Cameron. Vara served in the Cameron government and was the conservative party's first ethnic minority minister in the House of Commons when in May 2010, he was appointed to the government front bench as an Assistant Whip. On May 15, 2012, he became the first ethnic minority to speak for the conservatives from the Dispatch Box when he stepped in at Justice Questions when two Justice Ministers ( Ken Clarke, Lord Chancellor and Nick Herbert, Minister of State) were unable to attend. He was also Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Courts and Legal Aid from 2013 to 2016 and as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from 2015 to 2016. He returned to the backbenches in July 2016, having been removed from his positions by the new prime minister Theresa May. In the January 2018 reshuffle, he re-entered government as Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), serving under Karen Bradley. In November 2018, Vara resigned from this role in opposition to May's draft Brexit withdrawal agreement. During the July 2022 United Kingdom government crisis, Vara was appointed by Boris Johnson as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland but was dismissed by Liz Truss on 6 September 2022.[2]

In 2014, Vara was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. It is the highest award for Indian origin persons living abroad. Vara received the award for promoting ties between the UK and India, and for being the first Indian origin minister for the Conservative party.[3]

Early life and career[edit | edit source]

Shailesh Vara was born on 4 September 1960 in Uganda to Gujarati Indian immigrants. He moved to Britain with his family in 1964 and had a Hindu upbringing.[4][5] Vara went to Aylesbury Grammar School, before studying law at Brunel University, where he qualified as a solicitor.

He worked in the City of London and West End of London, as well as in Hong Kong from 1989-1990.[6] Vara has been a senior legal adviser and business consultant for London First, and is a former vice-president of the Small Business Bureau.[7]

Political career[edit | edit source]

Vara has been involved with the Conservative Party since the late 1980s and has held various posts at local, regional and national levels. He served as a Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2001 to 2005.[8] In this position, he had a broad range of responsibilities, including advising Michael Howard, deputising for the Party chairman, party spokesman with the media and looking after Conservative Future (which comprises the 10,000 or so people in the party under 30).

Since the 1990s Vara spoke frequently at Party Conferences including opening key debates on the economy and law and order.

At the 1997 general election, Vara stood in Birmingham Ladywood, coming second with 13.3% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP Clare Short.[9][10]

At the Conservative Party Conference in 2000, he was awarded the accolade of official "rising star" of the Party, with Lord Alexander of Weedon describing him as a "future Conservative Party leader".[11]

Vara stood in Northampton South in the 2001 general election, coming second with 41.1% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP Tony Clarke.[12]

In November 2000, Clarke caused controversy when he said his chances of success against Vara were increased because Vara, as a Ugandan born Hindu, was "unable to rely on the Asian vote" in a town with Muslim communities. Clarke added that "the 20% rural [vote] have shown themselves in the past to be quite racist in their voting."[13]

Parliamentary career[edit | edit source]

At the 2005 general election, Vara was elected to Parliament as MP for North West Cambridgeshire with 45.8% of the vote and a majority of 9,833.[14]

The Breast Cancer Bill was Vara's chosen issue after he was one of 20 MPs who were selected at random to introduce a private member's bill to the House of Commons in 2006.[15] He has campaigned to broaden the age of routine breast cancer screening for women from 50–70 age group to 45–75 years. The proposal was not supported by the then Labour government, which Vara claimed effectively blocked its progress by talking through to the end of the debate.[16]

Vara gave his backing to Breast Cancer Campaign's (BCC) award-winning national "wear it pink" day, and showed his support for breast cancer charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer at a meeting in the House of Commons.[17]

At the 2010 general election, Vara was re-elected as MP for North West Cambridgeshire with an increased vote share of 50.5% and an increased majority of 16,677.[18][19] He was again re-elected at the 2015 general election with an increased vote share of 52.5% and an increased majority of 19,795.[20][21]

Vara was opposed to Brexit prior to the 2016 Brexit referendum in June 2016.[22]

At the snap 2017 general election, Vara was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 58.6% and a decreased majority of 18,008.[23]

Early on 15 November 2018, Vara announced his resignation as a Northern Ireland Minister on Twitter, posting his letter of resignation. His resignation followed the previous day's marathon-length cabinet meeting to discuss the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement.[24][25]

In the 2019 Conservative leadership election, he initially backed the ultimately unsuccessful candidacy of Dominic Raab.[26]

At the 2019 general election, Vara was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 62.5% and an increased majority of 25,983.[27]

In November 2019, Vara stood unsuccessfully for the role of Speaker of the House of Commons.[28]

Following the State Opening of Parliament by HM Queen Elizabeth II on 11 March 2021, Vara had the honour, usually reserved for a senior parliamentarian, to propose the Loyal Address, starting the five day Queen's speech debate at the start of a new Parliamentary session. The speech is normally delivered to a packed House of Commons but uniquely, on this occasion, during the COVID pandemic, Vara spoke of the "dark shadow" of the pandemic as he addressed a much smaller number of MP's, all socially distanced and wearing safety masks [29]

On 7 July 2022, Vara was appointed as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, replacing Brandon Lewis.[30] He was sworn as a member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council on 8 July, entitling him to the style "The Right Honourable" for life.[31] He was dismissed by Liz Truss on 6 September.

In May 2024, Vara presented a New Bhagavad Gita, one of Hinduism's most sacred texts to the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP. The Gita was blessed at a temple in Mayapur India, and following the July 2024 general election it has been used by Hindu MPs taking the oath of allegiance to the Crown, before taking their seats in Parliament.[32]

At the 2024 general election, Vara lost his seat by 39 votes to Labour's Sam Carling.[33]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Vara has a black belt in taekwondo; and is a former instructor of the martial art. He is married to Beverley and has two sons, Sam and Max.[34]

He had a brief appearance in the Oscar winning film the "Iron Lady", starring Meryl Streep; and is mentioned in the credits.[35]

Vara was made an Honorary fellow of Brunel University in 2010.[36]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Rt Hon Shailesh Vara (3 July 2024). A proven record of delivery for taking a very tough line on law and order and anti-social behaviour. Retrieved 14 December 2024 – via Instagram.
  2. ↑ "Liz Truss - live updates: Truss outlines three priorities as PM - as Raab and Shapps confirm departure". Sky News. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  3. ↑ "Former CF India Chairman awarded highest award given to a NRI by the Indian Goverment[sic]". Conservative Friends. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  4. ↑ "15 Indian-origin MPs in new UK Parliament". The Times of India. 14 December 2019.
  5. ↑ "British Law Minister Shailesh Vara's India visit to carry forward UK-India legal links". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2015. The Minister already has close links to India. A Gujarati speaker, he was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the Indian Government earlier this year. He is also the first person of Gujarati origin to serve as a British Government Minister.
  6. ↑ Grant shuffled out as PM names ex-City solicitor as new justice minister, Legal Futures, 7 October 2013
  7. ↑ House of Commons, Class of 2005, The Guardian, 10 October 2005
  8. ↑ "Parliamentary career for Shailesh Vara - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament".
  9. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  10. ↑ "UK General Election results May 1997". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 1 May 1992. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  11. ↑ 'Rising star' hopes for Westminster ascent, BBC News, 28 May 2001
  12. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  13. ↑ Hall, Sarah; correspondent, political (18 November 2000). "Labour MP calls voters 'quite racist'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 September 2025. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  14. ↑ "BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Results | Cambridgeshire North West". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  15. ↑ "Breast Cancer Bill". Shailesh Vara MP. Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  16. ↑ Vara, Shailesh. "Government Blocks Breast Cancer Bill". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  17. ↑ Wear it pink for cancer campaign Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Peterborough Telegraph, 24 October 2006
  18. ↑ Cambridgeshire North West, BBC News
  19. ↑ Cambridgeshire North-West Archived 2 July 2022 at the Wayback Machine, UKPollingReport
  20. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  21. ↑ "Cambridgeshire North West parliamentary constituency - Election 2015 - BBC News". Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  22. ↑ "EU vote: Where the cabinet and other MPs stand". BBC News. 22 June 2016.
  23. ↑ "Candidates standing in the General Election in Cambridgeshire". 12 May 2017.
  24. ↑ McCormack, Jayne (15 November 2018). "Brexit deal: NIO Minister of State Shailesh Vara resigns". BBC News.
  25. ↑ "READ IN FULL: Shailesh Vara's resignation letter to Theresa May over 'half-way house' Brexit deal". 15 November 2018.
  26. ↑ "Peterborough MP Shailesh Vara backs Dominic Raab as next Prime Minister". Peterborough Telegraph. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  27. ↑ "Cambridgeshire North West Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  28. ↑ "House of Commons Speaker hustings 2019".
  29. ↑ .https://www.shaileshvara.com/parliament/vara-moves-loyal-address
  30. ↑ "Ministerial appointments: July 2022". GOV.UK. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  31. ↑ "List of Business 8th July 2022" (PDF). Privy Council of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  32. ↑ "Sacred Hindu text presented to the House of Commons". www.parliament.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  33. ↑ "North West Cambridgeshire 2024 Election Results". Cambridge News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  34. ↑ "New Model Tories: Tory tribes". The Independent. 23 September 2006. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  35. ↑ "Shailesh Vara". IMDb. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  36. ↑ Vara was made an Honorary fellow of Brunel University in 2010.

External links[edit | edit source]

Unrecognised parameter
Preceded by
Brian Mawhinney 		Member of Parliament
for North West Cambridgeshire
2005–2024 		Succeeded by
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Political offices
Preceded by
Brandon Lewis 		Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
2022 		Succeeded by
Chris Heaton-Harris

Template:Johnson Cabinet Template:Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland

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