Virenda Sharma was first elected as the Labour Party MP for Ealing Southall in a 2008 by-election. He was re-elected in 2019 with a majority of 16,084.
The Ealing Southall constituency in West London covers the communities of Southall, Norwood Green, Dormers Wells, Hanwell, and Northfields along the Piccadilly underground line. It is one of the most ethnically diverse constituencies in the UK, where according to the 2011 census, some 51% of the population were of Asian descent. This is the seat in the UK with the highest number of Sikh voters, at just over a fifth of the population. This area has long been safe territory for the Labour Party, with Labour holding this seat continuously since the Second World War.
Sharma was born in Mandalhi in Punjab, India, in 1947. He speaks English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu.
He initially worked as a London bus conductor, before gaining an MA from the London School of Economics after studying on a Trade Union scholarship. Prior to becoming an MP, he worked as a day services manager for people with learning disabilities in Hillingdon.
Sharma was elected to the local Ealing council between 1988 and 2010.
In March 2019 Sharma lost a vote of confidence from his local constituency party. He was said to have faced criticism from some, for his failure to attend local constituency Labour Party meetings. Others expressed concern that Sharma was taking an overly critical stance on Pakistan.
Sharma supports the expansion of Heathrow airport, having changed his position from one which was previously hostile to the construction of a third runway at the airport.
Sharma backed Sir Keir Starmer in the 2020 Labour leadership contest. He had previously supported Owen Smith in his 2016 challenge to Jeremy Corbyn, and backed Yvette Cooper in the 2015 contest.
Virenda Sharma is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on India; Nepal; Global Tuberculosis; Honour Based Abuse; Indian Traditional Sciences.
He is Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Bangladesh; Canada, Australia, and New Zealand; Hong Kong; the British Council; British Hindus; Crossrail; Heart Valve Disease; Liver Health; Malaria; Micromobility; Sixth Form Education; Social Integration.
Sharma is married with a son and a daughter.
Email: sharmav@parliament.uk
Website – https://www.virendrasharma.com/
