Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh was  the Member of Parliament for Ochil and South Perthshire, the SNP Westminster Spokesperson for Trade and Investment, and Deputy Shadow Leader of the House of Commons from 2015 to 2017. She served as a member of the UK delegation to the Council of Europe and as a board member of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. Tasmina was the first ever women of colour from Scotland, to be elected to any Parliament - European, Westminster or Scottish Parliament. She was also National Women's and Equalities Convener for the SNP from 2011 to 2018. Tasmina is a mother of four, and prior to her election in May 2015 she was a leading Scottish businesswoman, lawyer and screen actress. She was also a Board Member and Chair of the International and Commercial Development Committee of the City of Glasgow College from 2011 until her election, and an Advisory Board member for Yes Scotland, which campaigned in the 2014 Referendum to present the commercial, economic, social and political business case for an independent Scotland. She received an OBE in 2014 for services to business and the Asian community. As a member of Parliament, Tasmina campaigned on a wide range of issues, including; • Retaining Scotland’s membership of the EU • Calling on the UK Government to address the Syrian refugee crisis .Calling for an end to UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia following reports of their illegal use in the conflict in Yemen •Supporting a range of equality issues, including a fair deal for female pensioners (WASPI Women) • Making the role of women central to government action to combat terrorism and extremism in the UK and beyond. • Advocating reform of the UK’s unfair benefits sanctions system • Internet safety, as part of the Reclaim the Internet Campaign Tasmina is a Board Member with the UK-wide The Parliament Project promoting the role of women in politics, a Trustee of the charity Scottish Women in Sport and an alumna of the US State Department International Visitor Leadership Programme Tasmina is a columnist with The National newspaper and owner of Slàinte Media, which produces television programmes of which Tasmina is both Editor and co-presenter.