Rushanara Ali is the Labour Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow. She was elected in May 2010 with a majority of 11,574, having defeated George Galloway�s Respect Party.

In October 2010 Rushanara was appointed to the Labour front bench as Shadow Minister for International Development. As part of this role she is the Labour spokesperson on international development matters for Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, international finance and trade, private sector, jobs and growth, climate change, conflict and stabilisation as well as gender equality.

Prior to her election in May 2010, she was Associate Director of the Young Foundation. She previously worked at the Communities Directorate of the Home Office, leading a work programme in response to the 2001 disturbances in the north of England (2002-2005). 

Rushanara has worked on human rights issues at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2000-2001); as a Research Fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research (1999-2002) and as Parliamentary Assistant for Oona King, former MP for Bethnal Green & Bow (1997-1999).  

She has also worked as the Research Assistant to Lord Young of Dartington (author of the 1945 Labour Party manifesto). She also helped him set up Futureversity (formerly known as Tower Hamlets Summer University) and Language Line, a national telephone interpreting company.

My story is a typical East End story. I grew up in Tower Hamlets, having moved to the UK from Bangladesh when I was seven years old.  My family's migration is part of a long tradition of people who came here to build a better future for themselves and the people around them.  

My achievements are the achievements of the teachers and youth workers at Mulberry School and Tower Hamlets College. It was their belief in me that gave me my passports to opportunity � a place at Oxford University and jobs in Parliament, the Institute for Public Policy Research, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Home Office and now as an MP for Bethnal Green and Bow. 

Bethnal Green and Bow is a wonderfully diverse community and I know that people here face many challenges.  I will continue to work hard to improve the lives of all residents and for this community. Together, we can tackle the challenges residents face here.