SAYEEDA WARSI

Sayeeda Warsi is the first Muslim woman to represent the Conservative party when she stood for the seat of Dewsbury at the 2005 election. Although not elected, she was Michael Howard's advisor on community relations and is now a vice-chairman of the Conservative party, with responsibilities for cities and was the only vice-chairman to be re-appointed by David Cameron after his leadership victory.

Before giving it all up for politics Sayeeda was an extremely successful solicitor. The daughter of Pakistani parents who moved to the UK in the 1950s, after attending the local comprehensive school, Sayeeda studied law at Leeds University. She entered the Crown Prosecution Service and then the Presenting Officer's Unit in the Home Office Immigration Department. In 1998 she set up her own practice in her hometown of Dewsbury specialising in criminal defence litigation, immigration and mental health cases.

In 2002 Sayeeda set up the Savayra Foundation to help break the cycle of poverty in remote areas of Pakistan with a special focus on empowering women. She also sits on the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust Racial Justice Committee as an advisor on Religious and Race issues.

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