Tulip in UK elections race

Tulip Siddiq, granddaughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and daughter of Sheikh Rehana, is trying hard to get opposition Labour Party nomination for the United Kingdom’s next general elections.

Nomination for the coveted Hampstead and Kilburn constituency will be decided through a local election on Jul 14. The general elections are slated for 2015. The selection process lasts for a number of months before a final candidate is announced.

Camden Councillor and Community and Culture Cabinet Member, Tulip Siddiq has two other competitors – another Camden Councillor Sally Gimson and Deputy Mayor of Hackney Borough Sophie Linden – for the nomination.

A London local daily Evening Standard reported that Tulip was leading the race.

The report said the new nomination comes in the wake of retirement of former actress Glade Jackson, who has been winning the seat since 1992. In January, Oscar-winning actress Jackson confirmed she would not be standing for the marginal seat again. She won in 2010 with a majority of just 42 votes – the narrowest margin in the country.

Tulip, who represents Regent’s Park ward, told the daily that her relation with the locals and her work encouraged her to throw her hat into the ring. She seemed confident of the nomination citing reasons that she was the only one who put in efforts for Ed Miliband during the party chief’s elections in 2010.

Daughter of Shafiq Siddiq and Rehana, she is the first Bengali woman to have been elected Camden Councillor in 2010. She is an activist of Labour Party.

Tulip studied English literature for her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree at the University College of London. She did a second Master’s in Politics, Policy and Government before pursuing a career in British politics.

Recently, she tied the knot with a Briton, Christian Percy, who is a strategy consultant, with a background in the British civil service.

Conservative Party Co-Chairman Grant Shapps confirmed earlier this year that the seat is at the top of the Conservative target list to win at the 2015 general election.

The Tories have already selected Hampstead Town Councillor Simon Marcus as their candidate to contest the seat.