Apsana Begum

Begum was born in Shadwell, Tower Hamlets, London[4] to Bengali Muslim parents originally from the village of Ludorpur in Jagannathpur, Sunamganj, Bangladesh. Her Sylheti father, Manir Uddin Ahmed (who died in 2012), was also a Labour Party politician, the Tower Hamlets Community Housing Board Director (2002–2006) and the 2004 Mayor of Tower Hamlets.[2] Begum completed her education at Queen Mary University of London.[5]

In her early twenties, Apsana Begum worked as an administrative officer for Tower Hamlets Council, having been recruited through an agency, when the former Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, held office.[6]

In 2017, Begum became the first British Bangladeshi woman elected as Secretary of Tower Hamlets Labour Party.[7]

She has been actively involved in local campaigns to protect public services, stating that "tackling inequalities and standing up for marginalised communities has always been key to me".[8] She presented a petition to Tower Hamlets Council asking the Mayor to reconsider the 2017 budget "on the grounds that it is discriminatory to Women and Black and Minority Ethnic residents".[9]

Apsana Begum was selected to contest the safe Labour seat of Poplar and Limehouse at the 2019 General Election. She was endorsed by the left-wing group Momentum[10] and nominated from an all-women shortlist,[11] which included Tower Hamlets councillor Amina Ali and Progress activist Heather Peto.[12] Begum was endorsed by the then Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott who said

"I am delighted that Apsana – a young working class Bengali woman – has put herself forward to represent the seat where she was born and has lived all her life. Apsana has a strong record in fighting against the Tories' austerity agenda – standing up for young people, women and ethnic minorities in particular."[13][14][15]

At the general election in December 2019, Begum was elected as MP for Poplar and Limehouse,[16] beating Conservative Sheun Oke by 28,904 votes.[17] This was more than her predecessor Jim Fitzpatrick's 27,712 vote majority[18] at the 2017 general election, and represented a small increased majority for Labour, albeit on a slightly reduced vote share. Begum is a member of the left-wing Socialist Campaign Group of MPs. She is the UK's first Muslim woman MP to wear the hijab,[19][20] taking her seat in what has been called the most diverse Parliament ever.[21] On being elected, Begum spoke to the Eye about the series of racist, Islamophobic and misogynistic attacks that she has had to endure and the many barriers facing BAME women when getting involved in public life.[22] During an interview with Dazed she said

"It has been quite horrendous" ...and it's been quite personalised in terms of attacks. Before being elected, you see other MPs go through that but you don't necessarily appreciate the impact it can have on someone as an individual. But it does – we're all human beings."[23]

In response to allegations that the ex-Mayor Lutfur Rahman was behind her political career, Begum told Eastlondonlines:

"It is grossly insulting, as well as being rooted in racism and misogyny, to assume that I have no agency of my own and that I must be a 'proxy' or 'stooge' for a man I have not spoken to for six years."[24]

Begum delivered maiden speech in Parliament during a debate about International Women's Day paying tribute what she described as the "rich history of women's struggles for social justice" in East London.[20][25][26]

Subsequent to being elected, Begum was investigated over whether she wrongly secured a social rent one-bedroom flat.[31][32]In 2016, Begum had left her then husband's residence after the break down of her marriage[33][34] and shortly after secured a rented one-bed flat.[35][36] In 2019 a senior executive at Tower Hamlets received two official complaints concerning Begum's housing allocation.[35] Responding to the allegations, Begum denied wrongdoing saying that the flat provided her with "the lifeline" "needed to live independently and safely”.[37] A Labour Party source has said, "It's a disgrace these malicious attacks are being published, and she is being forced to relive these traumatic experiences."[35] A council spokesman has said that it takes allegations of housing fraud very seriously.[35]

In 2020 Begum was charged with three counts of fraud dating between 18 January 2013, and 31 March 2016 regarding allegedly dishonestly failing to disclose information.[38] She has stated that she will "vigorously contest"[39][40][41] the charges and pleaded not guilty to all charges on 8 December. Deputy senior district judge Tan Ikram approved an application to prevent her address from being read out in open court on the basis "since the murder of Jo Cox, MP's are advised to take higher regard to their security and is not usually safe practice to reveal details of home addresses" and after her solicitor highlighted problems with "a member of the Labour Party and their supporters have started a campaign of harassment against Miss Begum."[42] The case was sent to Snaresbrook Crown Court for trial by jury, which will begin on 21 July 2021.[43][44]

In 2014, Begum moved into her husband's residence, and they split up a year later.[35][36] Her ex-husband is a councillor for Tower Hamlets.[45] She does not have any children.[35]

• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
• Voting record at Public Whip
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou