Virendra Sharma was elected as MP for Ealing Southall in a by-election in 2007. He was born in India and the grandfather-of-three came to Hanwell from India in 1968 and started out as a bus conductor on the 207 route before studying at University on a Trade Union Scholarship and working as a day services manager for people with learning disabilities in Hillingdon. He served as a councillor in Ealing for 25 years including as Mayor. Virendra now serves on the International Development Select Committee. Virendra currently chairs the Indo-British APPG, the APPG for Gurkha Welfare, and is Co-Chair of the APPG on Nepal, the Tuberculosis Group, the Hepatitis Group and is Vice-Chair of the APPG for British Hindus.
1) What is your current position?
I am currently the Member of Parliament for Ealing, Southall and the Chair of the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group.
2) What are your proudest achievements?
Being re-elected this year with a doubled majority was fantastic, but my proudest achievement is my family, my son and daughter, and also my fantastic grandchildren, Aatish, Riah and Jaiden.
3) What inspires you?
My father’s dedication, whose Gandhian approach and Nehruvian Ideal has always been a constant source of inspiration for me.
4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?
Being too honest.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
Many people on different levels, but the biggest influence was my late mother. She taught me social values, secularism and to take care of the most disadvantaged groups in society.
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
Truly being able to effect change, speaking to ministers, and not just improving the lives of people here in the UK but also across the world.
7) And the worst?
Despite the wealth of the UK I am not able to help everyone in my own constituency, some need only a little help to get by, but can get none.
8) What are your long term goals?
I’m closer to ending my career than beginning, but seeing my family happy, safe and to spend time with my wife Nirmala, and leaving Southall better than it was in 2007.
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
Local Authority cuts are hurting the poorest in society the hardest, I would make sure that councils could still provide the services needed by making the cuts slower.
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
Nehru is a hero of mine, for his vision of a social-democratic nation, and creating the groundwork for a modern society based on equality, democracy and secularism.
