Natasha Asghar is a Welsh Conservative Party politician who represents South Wales East in the Senedd since the 2021 Senedd election. Her father Mohammad Asghar represented the same constituency until his death in 2020.[1] She is the first female ethnic minority member of the Senedd.[2] She was named as one of the BBC's 100 Women in 2021.[3] She stood for the Conservative Party's nomination for Mayor of London in the 2024 mayoral election,[4] but was not shortlisted.
Natasha Asghar | |
|---|---|
 Natasha Asghar in 2021 | |
| Member of the Senedd for South Wales East | |
| Assumed office 8 May 2021 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Newport, Wales |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Welsh Conservatives |
| Other political affiliations | Plaid Cymru (until 2009) |
Political career
Asghar was named the Welsh Conservative’s Shadow Minister for Transport and Technology and worked to see the creation an All Wales Travel Card similar to the Oyster card in London.[5]
Asghar stood as a Plaid Cymru candidate in the 2007 National Assembly for Wales election in Blaenau Gwent[6] and for the Wales seat in the 2009 European elections before joining the Conservative party on 8 December 2009 at the same time as her father who resigned from Plaid Cymru after the party barred him from hiring his daughter.[7][8] She unsuccessfully contested Torfaen at the 2011 National Assembly for Wales election for the Conservative Party.[9]
Asghar has been unsuccessful in her candidacy for the House of Commons seat of Newport East in 2015 and 2017.[10]
In May 2021, Asghar was highlighted as one of British Vogue's "5 Forces For Change".[11] Since being elected she has done interviews for the BBC, ITV, the South Wales Argus, The National, the Caerphilly Observer, the Welsh magazine Golwg and appeared on Sharp End.[12]
She was named as one of the BBC's 100 Women in December 2021.[3]
On 22 May 2023, Asghar announced that she would be standing for the Conservative Party's nomination for Mayor of London ahead of the 2024 London mayoral election.[4] She announced her decision via a video on Twitter. She had previously been a London resident for 20 years before moving to Wales.[13] On 12 May it was announced that her bid to become a potential candidate for the London mayoralty had failed when her name did not appear on the party's shortlist of three.[14]
Personal life
She is the daughter of the late Conservative assembly member Mohammad Asghar. She is of Pakistani descent.[15]
Education
Asghar holds a BA in Politics and Social Policy and a Masters in Contemporary British Policy and Media from the University of London.[12]