28 Facts About Apsana Begum

Apsana Begum is a British Labour Party politician serving as the Member of Parliament for Poplar and Limehouse since 2019.

Apsana Begum completed her education at Queen Mary University of London, where she gained a BA degree in Politics in 2011.

From 2011 to 2013, Apsana Begum worked in the role of Executive Support and Admin for Tower Hamlets Council.

Apsana Begum was a Workforce Diversity Project Officer for Tower Hamlets Homes from 2014 to 2015, and Equality and Diversity Officer for Queen Mary University of London from 2016 to 2018.

Apsana Begum was selected to contest the safe Labour seat of Poplar and Limehouse at the 2019 general election.

Apsana Begum was endorsed by the left-wing group Momentum and nominated from an all-women shortlist.

Apsana Begum was elected as MP for Poplar and Limehouse, beating Conservative Sheun Oke by 28,904 votes.

Apsana Begum is a member of the left-wing Socialist Campaign Group of MPs.

Apsana Begum is the UK's first Muslim woman MP to wear the hijab,.

On being elected, Apsana Begum spoke to the Eastern Eye about what she described as a series of racist, Islamophobic and misogynistic attacks that she has had to endure, and the many barriers facing BAME women when getting involved in public life.

On 24 February 2022, following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Apsana Begum was one of 11 Labour MPs threatened with loss of the party whip after they signed a statement by the Stop the War Coalition which questioned the legitimacy of NATO and accused NATO of "eastward expansion".

Apsana Begum commented in November 2020 that the Labour Party "has been in denial" about the problem of Islamophobia.

On 9 April 2020, in an article published by Left Foot Forward, Apsana Begum raised concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-income families and black, Asian and minority ethnic people.

Apsana Begum said that the communities were at a greater risk due to the proportion of members who worked in the health sector.

Apsana Begum has opposed extradition of Julian Assange and sponsored a related motion in parliament.

In 2019, Apsana Begum was criticised for sharing a social media post in 2017 that referred to Saudi Arabia's "Zionist masters".

In 2020, in response to the EHRC's report into Labour Party, Apsana Begum tweeted that she accepted the recommendations and urged for them to be implemented without delay.

Apsana Begum moved into her husband's residence, but she has alleged that he was abusive towards her, and then cheated on her, leading her to end the marriage in October 2015.

Apsana Begum reconciled with her family, and slept on a sofa in their living room.

In January 2020, Apsana Begum wrote in a tweet that she had suffered from domestic abuse.

Apsana Begum went on to become chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Domestic Violence and Abuse.

When she moved in with her husband in 2013, Apsana Begum notified the council.

When, in 2016, Apsana Begum left her husband after the breakdown of her marriage, she contacted the council by phone and was sent a form to complete.

Apsana Begum was interviewed in January 2020, when it was alleged she had lied about not having her own bedroom.

Apsana Begum was accused of failing to notify the Council when she moved to her husband's home in 2013.

In 2020, Apsana Begum was charged with three counts of fraud dating between 18 January 2013 and 31 March 2016, relating to the charge that she dishonestly failed to disclose information.

Apsana Begum stated that she was going to "vigorously contest" the charges.

Apsana Begum argued that she was a victim of domestic abuse, coercive control and financial abuse and, on 30 July 2021, she was found not guilty on all charges.