Join us in Honouring Virendra Sharma: 50 Years of Dedicated Public Service

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On March 22, 2025, a special event will be held at the Heston Hyde Hotel to honor Virendra Sharma’s remarkable 50-year commitment to public service within Ealing and the Labour Party. The evening will feature guest speakers and tributes from public figures who have collaborated with Mr. Sharma throughout his distinguished career. Attendees will enjoy a meal and drinks as part of the celebration.

Virendra Sharma’s journey in public service began when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Ealing Southall in a by-election on July 19, 2007. He was subsequently re-elected in 2010, 2015, 2017, and 2019, consistently demonstrating his dedication to his constituents. Notably, he has been ranked among the top ten MPs in the UK for his openness and responsiveness to constituents, achieving 8th place out of 650.

Born in India, Mr. Sharma is fluent in Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu. He is married and has a grown-up son and daughter, as well as three grandchildren. After moving to Hanwell, in the London Borough of Ealing, from  India in 1968, he began his career as a bus conductor on the 207 route before pursuing studies at the London School of Economics on a Trade Union Scholarship. His professional journey includes significant roles in the voluntary sector and serving as the National Ethnic Minorities Officer for the Labour Party between 1986 and 1992.

Mr. Sharma’s political career also encompasses over 30 years of service on Ealing Council, where he held various positions, including Chair of Housing, Chair of Personnel, and Chair of the Race Equality Committee. He also served a term as Mayor of Ealing. Throughout his public life, he has been guided by a strong belief in social justice and fairness, maintaining a steadfast commitment to a vision of society based on secularism and genuine equality.

In Parliament, Mr. Sharma has been an active member of several committees, including the Health Select Committee for five years and the Joint Committee on Human Rights for seven years. He continues to serve as a long-standing member of the International Development Select Committee. His leadership roles extend to chairing the Indo-British All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), the Nepal APPG, the Honour Based Abuse APPG, and the Global Tuberculosis APPG. Additionally, he serves as Vice-Chair of the APPGs for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the British Council (South Asia), and Extreme Poverty.

His peers in Parliament elected him to join the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where he represents British interests, focusing on human rights and anti-discrimination efforts. In 2008/2009, he served the Labour Government as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State at the Home Office.

This upcoming event at the Heston Hyde Hotel offers an opportunity for colleagues, constituents, and friends to celebrate Virendra Sharma’s five decades of unwavering dedication to public service and his significant contributions to both Ealing and the broader political landscape.

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