Natasha Asghar

Natasha Asghar MS
Natasha Asghar in 2021
Member of the Senedd for South Wales East
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 May 2021
Personal details
Born	Newport, Wales
Nationality	British
Political party	Welsh Conservatives
Other political affiliations	Plaid Cymru (until 2009)

Natasha Asghar is a Welsh Conservative Party politician who represents South Wales East in the Senedd since the 2021 Senedd election. Her father Mohammad Asghar represented the same constituency until his death in 2020.^[1] She is the first female ethnic minority member of the Senedd.^[2] She was named as one of the BBC's 100 Women in 2021.^[3] She stood for the Conservative Party's nomination for Mayor of London in the 2024 mayoral election,^[4] but was not shortlisted.

Political career

Asghar was named the Welsh Conservative’s Shadow Minister for Transport and Technology and worked to see the creation an All Wales Travel Card similar to the Oyster card in London.^[5]

Asghar stood as a Plaid Cymru candidate in the 2007 National Assembly for Wales election in Blaenau Gwent^[6] and for the Wales seat in the 2009 European elections before joining the Conservative party on 8 December 2009 at the same time as her father who resigned from Plaid Cymru after the party barred him from hiring his daughter.^[7][8] She unsuccessfully contested Torfaen at the 2011 National Assembly for Wales election for the Conservative Party.^[9]

Asghar has been unsuccessful in her candidacy for the House of Commons seat of Newport East in 2015 and 2017.^[10]

In May 2021, Asghar was highlighted as one of British Vogue's "5 Forces For Change".^[11] Since being elected she has done interviews for the BBC, ITV, the South Wales Argus, The National, the Caerphilly Observer, the Welsh magazine Golwg and appeared on Sharp End.^[12]

She was named as one of the BBC's 100 Women in December 2021.^[3]

On 22 May 2023, Asghar announced that she would be standing for the Conservative Party's nomination for Mayor of London ahead of the 2024 London mayoral election.^[4] She announced her decision via a video on Twitter. She had previously been a London resident for 20 years before moving to Wales.^[13] On 12 May it was announced that her bid to become a potential candidate for the London mayoralty had failed when her name did not appear on the party's shortlist of three.^[14]

Personal life

She is the daughter of the late Conservative assembly member Mohammad Asghar. She is of Pakistani descent.^[15]

Education

Asghar holds a BA in Politics and Social Policy and a Masters in Contemporary British Policy and Media from the University of London.^[12]

References

1. "Natasha Asghar to stand for Welsh Conservatives in Senedd Elections". Caerphilly Observer. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
2. "Natasha Asghar becomes first female Senedd member from a BAME background". ITV News. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
3. "BBC 100 Women 2021: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
4. @nasghar (22 May 2023). "🚨 I've applied to become the @Conservatives Mayor of #London candidate. 🥀 For 2 years I have been fighting against Labour's policies in Wales - and now it's time to take the fight to London. 👇 It's time for change and I know I can be the breath of fresh air Londoners need" (Tweet). Retrieved 22 May 2023 – via Twitter.
5. "Asghar welcomes positive response to her calls for an All-Wales Travel Card". Natasha Asghar MS. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
6. Young Candidates, Plaid Cymru
7. "The Conservative Party | People | Welsh Assembly Members | Mohammad Asghar AM". Archived from the original on 20 October 2011.
8. Shipton, Martin (26 January 2010). "Daughter of AM who left Plaid to join the Tories is now on his staff". Wales Online. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
9. "BBC News - Election 2011 - Wales - Torfaen". BBC News. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
10. "Natasha Asghar - Candidate for South Wales East in Senedd Cymru elections (Regions)". Democracy Club Candidates. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
11. Mukhtar, Amel (30 May 2021). "5 Forces For Change That Made Waves In May". British Vogue. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
12. "About Natasha Asghar/Mwy am Natasha Asghar". Natasha Asghar MS. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
13. "Prominent Welsh Tory announces bid to become the Mayor of London". South Wales Argus. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
14. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-65878047
15. "Natasha Asghar to stand for Welsh Conservatives in Senedd Elections". Caerphilly Observer. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.