Apsana Begum is a prominent British Labour politician, serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Poplar and Limehouse since December 2019. Re-elected for a second term in 2024, she has become a trailblazer as the first hijab-wearing MP in the UK, and the fourth British Bangladeshi to hold such a position. Her victory in 2019 was historic, securing a commanding majority of 28,904 votes and increasing Labour’s dominance in the constituency.
Born and raised in Poplar and Limehouse, Apsana comes from a politically active family. She is the fifth daughter of the late Manir Uddin Ahmed, a former civic mayor of Tower Hamlets and local councillor. Apsana credits her father’s influence and political activism as key factors in her own journey into politics.
Before entering Parliament, Apsana studied Politics at Queen Mary University of London and later earned a postgraduate diploma in law and community leadership from the School of Oriental and African Studies. She also worked in various public sector roles, including at Tower Hamlets Council, Tower Hamlets Homes, Queen Mary University, and the NHS, where she focused on diversity and inclusion, ensuring the local workforce reflected the community it served. Additionally, she was a trustee for the Women’s Inclusive Team, a Somali women-led charity providing support to those facing unemployment, school exclusion, and other challenges.
A passionate advocate for social justice, Apsana has been an outspoken anti-austerity campaigner, championing public ownership and democratic control of vital services. She has also campaigned for better rights and services for children with special educational needs and for community support services, such as public nurseries and language services. As an MP, she has continued her activism by opposing legislation that undermines civil liberties, such as the Nationality and Borders Act, and advocating for an amnesty and access to public services for undocumented migrants.
In Parliament, Apsana has raised her voice on a wide range of issues, including Islamophobia, NHS privatization, and the environmental impacts on communities in Bangladesh and Somalia. In 2022, she led a historic debate commemorating UNESCO International Mother Languages Day, speaking in Sylheti for the first time in the UK Parliament.
Apsana is a strong advocate for women’s rights and domestic abuse survivors, serving as the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Domestic Abuse and Violence. She played a crucial role in the passage of the Domestic Abuse Act. Her political career continues to be driven by a commitment to social equality and community empowerment.