Sonika Nirwal - Political Career

Political Career

Nirwal became popular for her down-to-earth approach to politics and the energy with which she campaigned for local issues. She worked extensively for her ward to enable the regeneration of the town centre, and housing estates, as well to enable greater community safety.

Nirwal has been a principal consultant for the Improvement and Development Agency where she visits councils across the country to help them improve the services they deliver to local people. She was also a Board member for Ealing Hospital, a position she held for three years, and was chair for the hospital trust’s quality and diversity committee.

Inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and by people of that movement like Rosa Parks, Nirwal says: “I guess my basic ethic is if you’re not happy about something you should speak up about it, not sit quietly and do nothing.”

Although she lost out to being a Labour candidate for Ealing Southall, she still has aims to be a Labour MP. In 2007 she commented that: “Being the first Asian women to ever lead a political group is a great achievement and there is still more I want to achieve. I have bigger aspirations for local schools and local regeneration issues to ensure Ealing is sustainable for the future.”