Nusrat Ghani Becomes First Muslim Woman Minister to Speak in Parliament
If you’ve been keeping up to date with Parliamentary proceedings this week which, let’s face it, you probably have, you will have been witness to a moment of history.
Nusrat Ghani, the recently appointed Transport Minister, became the first Muslim woman minister to speak in Parliament when she stood at the dispatch box to answer questions about station access for disabled people.
Ms Ghani, 45, has been MP for Wealden since 2015. A Conservative, she was born in Kashmir.
Following Ghani’s historic moment, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: ‘I congratulate her – I’m very proud to sit alongside her.’
Ms Ghani worked for various charities and the BBC World Service before she first stood as a Conservative Party candidate in Birmingham in the 2010 general election.
After achieving her milestone, Ghani celebrated by thanking her colleagues on Twitter:
Made my debut as @transportgovuk Minister and made a bit of history as the first female Muslim Minister to speak from the House of Commons dispatch box. Supported by wonderful colleagues Chris Grayling, @JoJohnsonUK & @Jesse_Norman @Conservatives pic.twitter.com/CwkDIPY5xX
— Nusrat Ghani MP (@Nus_Ghani) January 18, 2018