Although she never intended to go into politics, Shivani Raja’s love of Leicester drove her down the important and high-powered path she’s on today…
Earlier this year, the 30-year- old Conservative was elected as MP for Leicester East – a surprising victory for some. It came as something of a surprise to Shivani too, who never saw herself in frontline politics.
However, she steps into Parliament with confidence, taking her place in the cabinet and voicing her opinions with a calm, collected eloquence.
Picture: Shivani Raja
“I wasn’t from a political background at all, so this wasn’t really on the cards. I did fear that I may have some kind
of imposter syndrome sitting in the Chamber, but touch wood, that’s not been the case,” she tells Pukaar.
“I actually feel very comfortable, I feel very competent and I feel very confident in voicing my opinion and those of my constituents. Everybody there has been elected to represent their constituents at the end of the day, and we all have a duty of responsibility to represent them to the best of our ability.”
When it comes to politics, Shivani’s intentions are simple; to make Leicester a better place to live, learn, work and do business. Born and bred in Leicester, she has a genuine love for the city she calls home.
“We have so much cultural diversity here. When I was in school, Leicester was known as the ‘Culture Capital of Europe’ and there was this really big buzz around the city,” she said.
“We used to have lots of multi-faith festivals and I remember that there was a week in the summer where every single culture would be able to showcase cultural awareness as part of a festival. It was a real insight into the way that all of the different communities living in Leicester live in harmony and how we can learn from them.
“ That’s what I love about Leicester – so many different people, so many different ideas just co- existing in harmony. It’s really beautiful to see.“
Shivani is someone who believes in the value of education and hard-work. Her parents migrated to the UK in the late 70s. They arrived with ‘very little’ she says. However, they worked incredibly hard and now run a successful business in the property sector.
“Ever since I was young there was always this encouragement to do well at school and the message that education is central to success. It was all about working hard and the importance of providing for your family,” says Shivani.
She graduated from De Montfort University with a first class honours degree in Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science.
After a decade of working in the corporate private sector, she started her own small business before taking the dramatic leap into politics.
“I believe that Leicester East just needed a person with fresh energy and young blood,” she insists.
“The biggest challenge so far has been keeping up with Leicester’s social calendar! The people of Leicester like to keep busy and there’s always something going on. It’s a challenge but one that I’m definitely enjoying.”
