Scotland welcomed my family and I with open arms and I look upon this country as our home. For a great number of years, I studied and worked while bringing up my children as a single widow, and it is these times that have shaped my politics.
I have invested almost a quarter of a century into community work; in an attempt to reduce certain barriers, to axe prejudices, and to build a brighter future for the community in which I live. These have been years of hard work and long hours, in order to promote a sense of ‘one community’ bringing together different cultures and religions.
I have been fighting to promote equality of opportunity for all; to give every individual the chance to achieve their full potential, free from prejudice and discrimination.
I have experienced discrimination and bullying in the past when I was a political candidate for another party. I understand that discrimination does not need to be a direct action against a person as it can very well be the form of action that happened to me. However, I never let it break me and I thought long and hard about my political beliefs and how best I could serve my community – and this led me to Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. For me, it is the party that actively promotes equality.
Since joining the Scottish Conservative Party, I found that one of the main aims of the Party is to ensure that all communities of all cultural and religious backgrounds are well represented. For me, the Scottish Conservative Party is a party that works towards effective and productive community engagement, and a party that works together. The party strives to work with all communities across Scotland, to embrace an ethos of equality and to promote it as a mainstream focus for our multicultural Scotland.
I am honoured to be part of ‘Scottish Conservatives- Friends of BAME’. I want to serve my community, help the elderly, assist the homeless to secure decent accommodation, and eliminate child poverty, in order for our children to live and thrive with as many opportunities available to them as possible.
We all must embrace the importance of inclusivity and diversity, if we are to succeed as a party and as a country. Everyone must be ‘on board’ and I believe that the Conservative Party is working effectively to engage and give a voice to every group within society. My party also supports and encourages all people to play an active role in politics, and beyond. The Scottish Conservatives believe in active community participation by all groups. This will lead to fairer decision making for our beloved Scotland. I enjoy being part of a party that truly has our people at its heart.