Marina Ahmad

Marina Ahmad
AM
Member of the London Assembly
for Lambeth and Southwark
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 May 2021
Preceded byFlorence Eshalomi
Personal details
Born
Marina Masuma Ahmad

Bangladesh
Political partyLabour
Children2
Residence(s)West Wickham, London, England
Alma materUniversity of Surrey
Websitewww.marinaahmadlabour.com

Marina Masuma Ahmad is a British Labour Party politician and trade unionist who has been the London Assembly Member for Lambeth and Southwark since the 2021 London Assembly election.[1] She represented Crystal Palace and was an education spokesperson on Bromley Council.

Early life

Ahmad was born in Bangladesh and moved to England at six months old where she grew up on a council estate. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and History from the University of Surrey.[2][3]

Career

Ahmad is a trade unionist who has worked in the public sector, the voluntary sector, and for the NHS. She is also a trained barrister, having previously worked for the Crown Prosecution Service.[4] She contested Beckenham in three general elections; 2015, 2017 and 2019.

She represented Crystal Palace ward on Bromley Council from 2018 to 2021, serving as the Council's education spokesperson.[4]

In the 2021 London Assembly election, she was elected as Assembly Member (AM) for Lambeth and Southwark (London Assembly constituency), and has since served as deputy chair of the Economy committee and as a member of the Police and Crime committee.[4]

She is currently Chair of the London Assembly's Economy, Culture and Skills Committee, as well as sitting on the Health Committee and Police and Crime Committee.[5]

As an Assembly Member, she has successfully campaigned for the introduction of free school meals in London, releasing an in-depth report Growing Hungry: The Call for a Childhood Hunger Commission for London.[6] This policy was adopted by Mayor Sadiq Khan, who then pledged to continue the policy for four more years when campaigning in the 2024 election.

In October 2022 it was reported that Ahmad was a candidate to be the prospective parliamentary candidate in Camberwell and Peckham at the 2024 general election.[7] Ahmad did not make the shortlist.[7] In November 2023, Ahmad sought the nomination in Beckenham and Penge.[8]

She founded the anti-racism social policy think tank Race on the Agenda.[4]

Personal life

Ahmad lives in West Wickham with her husband, who is a local GP. They have two children.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Labour holds Lambeth & Southwark London Assembly seat but we still don't know who will be mayor". Southwark News. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  2. ^ "About". Marina Ahmad for Lambeth and Southwark. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Bangladeshis in the UK general election". Dhaka Tribune. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Neame, Katie (23 September 2022). "Camberwell and Peckham's next Labour candidate – runners and riders". LabourList. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Marina Ahmad | London City Hall". www.london.gov.uk. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  6. ^ Ahmad, Marina. "Growing Hungry: The Case for a Child Hunger Commission". London Assembly.
  7. ^ a b Holloway, Lester (9 October 2022). "Race to represent Peckham kicks off". Voice Online. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  8. ^ Jones, Morgan (2 November 2023). "Exclusive: Palestine charity CEO joins high-profile race for south London seat". LabourList. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  9. ^ Strzalek, Anthony (25 November 2019). "Meet the election candidates: Marina Ahmad (Labour)". News in Beckehnham. Retrieved 14 March 2023.