British Tamil Uma Kumaran, representing the Labour Party, has made history by becoming the first Tamil woman to be elected as a Member of Parliament in the UK. She secured 19,145 votes for the Stratford and Bow constituency in the general election held on July 4, 2024.

Born in East London and raised in Harrow, Ms. Kumaran's parents fled Sri Lanka to escape the conflict there. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen Mary University. Ms. Kumaran began her career in government in December 2007, working for the NHS.

For about 14 months, she worked in the NHS for the current Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. She then became a parliamentary researcher and caseworker for MP Dawn Butler, collaborating with several Labour Party lawmakers before her unsuccessful bid in the 2010 local elections.

In a recent interview with the Tamil Guardian, Ms. Kumaran spoke about her Tamil heritage and the significant contributions of the Tamil community to British society. She stated, “Tamils have contributed immensely to British life, in our NHS, to our economy, in business, arts and culture, and our public services.”

Ms. Uma has served as the Deputy Director of Parliamentary Affairs for Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer for over 18 months. Additionally, she has worked with the United Nations, scientists, and activists to combat climate change globally. "Every job for me has always been with purpose," she told Tamil Guardian.

Following her election victory, Ms. Kumaran expressed her gratitude on her social media handle, X, thanking all those who trusted her and the Labour Party. She promised to be a dedicated voice and representative for her constituents.





Congratulations and best wishes for your political journey!

Source / Image Credit: The Hindu