Mayuri Parmar recently joined Policy Exchange, a leading think tank, as Deputy Head of its Diverse Communities unit. Her research focus is on diversity policy, politics and ethnicity and representation of diverse communities in public life.
She is also currently the Director of the Conservative Friends of India, based at Conservative HQ. The organisation helps to bridge links between the party, the Indian diaspora and the Indian subcontinent.
Prior to this, Mayuri was a senior business consultant and also worked briefly in the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit. Her interest in politics began at school, thanks to a ‘citizenship trip’ to the Houses of Parliament, where she was selected to debate the death penalty at the age of 14. This interest led Mayuri to eventually work in the House of Commons as a researcher during her gap year, ahead of studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Warwick.
We met her at an event hosted by the Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party, who praised her work.
We wanted to know where Mayuri saw herself in five years’ time.
She told us that the labyrinth of rules, conventions and people that make up Britain’s political system has always fascinated Mayuri. She’s found the journey along the way difficult for anyone who is young, ambitious and idealistic. Her aim is to support and help those who have political ambition at any level- especially those from diverse communities who may not have the access or knowledge- in order that they can traverse these very complicated (and often lonely) waters.
Mayuri is proud of her Indian heritage. She feels that the relationship between Britain and India will re-calibrate over the next decade so that real benefits can be felt on both sides. Working with both governments, she hopes to support the development of this.
Mental health is something close to her heart- an area that she feels is inadequately provided for- especially within the Asian community. She hopes to build a social enterprise to support people from the community who suffer and to create awareness and address the stigma attached to it.
In five years’ time she hopes to have a family and be working towards the things just described.
Mayuri believes British Asians can engage in the political process, even the common man without political ambition for himself.
Through her work, Mayuri has witnessed British Asians punching above their weight in many areas of British life; however, she’s seen a lack of representation at both national and local levels in politics. She said,
“I encourage anyone that is interested in getting involved formally to contact his or her local political associations and become a member. If you know your Member of Parliament (those that don’t can do so here: http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/Member of Parliament) write to them, meet them and lobby them about issues of concern to you. Educating yourself in the system is key, as affecting change is dependent on knowing and using the correct channels and procedures.
Politics also happens beyond the circus of Westminster too. You can be an advocate in public life at all levels- whether this is to become a Justice of Peace, joining your local parish council, signing a petition on change.org, joining a public consultation or applying for a non-departmental public body post. If you need support- she suggests that you contact groups like Conservative Friends of India, your local party, councillors or MPs for further information.”
Mayuri believes that no matter what your background, politics plays an important role in having a voice on issues that affect your life. She says,
“Demographics in Britain show that our communities are becoming ever more diverse, at a faster rate. As British society evolves so too will the wants, needs and aspirations of people living and working here. People in the Asian community care just as much as any other community about jobs, education and housing. But engaging in the political process is vital to address specific needs; for example the issue of creating larger crematoria for the Asian community or being able to wear turbans instead of hard hats on building sites for the Sikh community. If these representations aren’t made at the right time to the right bodies and people, the Asian perspective cannot be taken into account. As a community we need to use our social capital to bring these issues to the decision-makers.”
