In 1976, I left my home country of Bangladesh and settled in the United Kingdom. Epsom became my home and I worked diligently in the bustling city of Croydon. Drawn by the diverse and multicultural atmosphere, I moved to Thornton Heath in 1979 and have been a proud resident of Croydon ever since.
My love for this community and its people runs deep. As a councillor representing Norbury since 2006, I am committed to serving my constituents with the utmost dedication and passion. My wife Rohema and I have raised our three children in this community, and we take great pride in seeing them all happily married with six beautiful grandchildren.
"Never give up your dream"
Sherwan
Growing up, I was greatly influenced by my father’s dedication to community work. As a community pharmacist, he tirelessly worked to provide medical care to the most vulnerable members of our society. His selfless service inspired me to follow in his footsteps and dedicate my life to helping others. In 1980, I became involved in community work, and later opened a restaurant in Thornton Heath.
Recognizing my passion for helping people, I transitioned to the social housing sector, where I have worked for 27 years. My wife, too, has contributed to the community as a teaching assistant for nearly three decades. Together, we have always strived to support those in need and help them reach their full potential.
As a first-generation immigrant, I am grateful for the opportunities that this country has provided me, and I am committed to ensuring that every person is afforded the same or better. Discrimination has no place in our society, and I am dedicated to creating a fair and equal society where everyone can pursue their dreams.
My journey with the Labour Party began in 1992 when I first became a member in Croydon. One of my very first achievements was supporting the local MP Malcolm Wicks to win the election in a very marginal seat swinging from Tory to Labour. Also, I have proven campaigning election experience, having been voted in as a councillor for Croydon in 1994: I won unwinnable Beulah Ward, which helped Croydon Labour party wins after 111 years. I have 31 years of campaign experience winning for Labour having represented Croydon. I have also been a local councillor for the last 17 years.
Under my leadership in Croydon council and community highlights of my achievements were as follows:
I became the Mayor of Croydon for 2021-22 and raised 55k pounds for Cancer and homeless charity. This position also gave me opportunity to represent the borough and reached out to all community within and outside the borough.
I have also different committee such planning, audit and governance, pension, health care board, licensing, and housing panel.
For the last 27 years I have been working in the Housing sector including homelessness, so understand intricately the challenges people are facing on a day-to-day basis in terms of Health, Housing, education, social services and policing. Being a local councillor has also allowed me the opportunity to work hand in hand with my local MPs late Malcolm Wicks, Steve Reed and Sarah Jones so understand the running an MPs office and what they do on a day-to-day basis? My experience in local government as a Labour councillor and my experience working in housing mean I have expertise in key issues that will be of great importance to local voters at the next election.
We in the Labour party can win the next election by getting behind Kier Starmer and projecting a united front with our messaging and communications. We must also show potential voters that we have regained the fighting spirit and appetite for change which has defined our party throughout its history, and that our economic policy will begin growth in the UK economy better than the conservative party policy of cutting taxes!
My Experience to date: Labour Councillor in Croydon since 2006 to date, Croydon North CLP Chair for 3 terms, Croydon North Vice-chair (fundraising officer) for 2 terms, Croydon North CLP Ethnic Minority Officer for 3 terms, Bensham Ward organiser for 4 terms, Norbury Ward Treasurer, Scrutiny and Overview Committee.
Campaigning experience:
I have worked as a Housing Support Worker and Project manager in different housing associations.
The only way we can improve society in the UK is through politics and the Labour party. My experience working as a councillor for Croydon and working in housing has given me the skills to understand complex decision-making processes in the public and private sector organisations which is essential in hitting the ground running as an MP.
As Deputy Cabinet Member for Housing in Croydon, I led a landlord licensing scheme that helped raise the quality of housing, monitored landlords, and protected tenant rights from rogue landlords. As a founding director and secretary of the Croydon Race Equality Partnership and Vice Chair of the Croydon Race Equality Council, I worked with the Council Equality and Diversity department to develop their Equality and Diversity Policy and monitor their performance. During my year of Chairing Adult and Social Care Scrutiny Sub Community, I raised funding allocation for Croydon NHS with NHS England due to demographic changes.
As Mayor of Croydon for 2021-22, I raised 55k pounds for Cancer and homeless charity and represented the borough, reaching out to all communities within and outside the borough. I have also served on various committees, including planning, audit and governance, pension, health care board, licensing, and housing panel.
My experience working as a councillor for Croydon and in housing has given me the skills to understand complex decision-making processes in the public and private sector organizations. This experience is essential in hitting the ground running as an MP, and I strongly believe that the only way we can improve society in the UK is through politics and the Labour party.
My father’s passion for community work inspired me to live a life that helped others. He was a community pharmacist, helping the poorest and most vulnerable access medical care. This passion led me to become involved with the community in 1980. After opening a restaurant in Thornton Heath, I later moved into the insurance industry as a branch manager for AIG in East Croydon before changing my career to work in the social housing sector, where I have now worked for 27 years.
In my personal life, I have always tried to support those who need that little extra help, so that they can reach their full potential. As a first-generation immigrant who was given an opportunity by this country, I want to ensure that every person has the same or better opportunities, free from discrimination. My wife has worked as a teaching assistant locally for nearly 30 years, and I have also served as a school governor for Winterbourne Boys for 14 years.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on our community, and we remember the loss of our loved ones. As we start to lead our community towards a brighter and safer future, my priority is to help those who are suffering from their loss. We in the Labour Party can win the next election by projecting a united front with our messaging and communications, getting behind Kier Starmer, and showing potential voters that we have regained the fighting spirit and appetite for change that has defined our party throughout its history. Our economic policy will begin growth in the UK economy better than the Conservative Party policy of cutting taxes.
