Natasha Asghar is a Welsh Conservative Party politician who has served as Member of the Senedd for the South Wales East region since 2021,and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education since December 2024. Her father Mohammad Asghar represented the same constituency until his death in 2020.[1] She is the first female ethnic minority member of the Senedd. She was awarded devolved politician at the House of Commons for he work in relation to the 20MPH campaign in Wales in 2024[2] and she was also awarded the Iron Lady Award in the House of Lords for her contribution in politics.[3]
She joined the Conservative party in December 2009 at the same time as her father,Mohammad Asghar.[7][8] She said "For me,family is everything. I believe in my father. Wherever he goes I will follow."[9] At the time of Mohammad Asghar's defection,it was alleged that he left in part due to the party barring him from hiring her.[10][11][bettersourceneeded] She was hired as a member of his support staff in the Senedd in 2010.[11]
On 22 May 2023,Asghar announced that she would be standing for the Conservative Party's nomination for Mayor of London ahead of the 2024 London mayoral election.[14] She announced her decision via a video on Twitter. She had previously been a London resident for 20 years before moving to Wales.[15] On 12 June it was announced that her bid to become a potential candidate for the London mayoralty had failed when her name did not appear on the party's shortlist of three.[16]
Senedd
She was elected to the Senedd at the 2021 Senedd election to represent South Wales East. She became the first female ethnic minority candidate to be elected as an MS.[17] Shortly after she was appointed Shadow Minister for Transport.[18] As Shadow Transport Minister,she supported the creation of an All Wales Travel Card similar to the Oyster card in London.[19] She also led the Welsh Conservative's approach to criticising the reduction of 30mph speed limit zones to 20 miles per hour.[20]
In May 2024,the Senedd Standards Commissioner announced she was being investigated over her description of the Welsh Government's new 20mph default limit policy as "blanket". In September 2024,the Commissioner reported that this was a breach of the Senedd's code of conduct.[21][22][23] Asghar stated she would "make absolutely no apology" for her description of the policy.[22] On 25 September,Asghar was formally reprimanded by the Senedd authorities for calling Wales' 20mph speed limit a "blanket" policy on social media,while signing off a report advising her party to refrain from using the term.[24] In October 2024,she posted images of herself attending a protest against the 20mph policy on the steps of the Senedd,which involved heavy use of blankets,and allegedly strangled an effigy of Lee Waters,the Minister behind the policy.[25] When asked if this was a protest against her censure,she said "I'm hoping now we're in winter,blankets will be a regular feature at these important gatherings."[25]
After Andrew RT Davies resigned as Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and was replaced by Darren Millar,Asghar was reshuffled to the role of Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education.[26] Her portfolio was expanded to include responsibility for children and young people in July 2025.[27]
She is the daughter of the late Conservative assembly member Mohammad Asghar. Asghar was privately educated at Rougemont School in Newport,she went on to hold a BA in Politics and Social Policy and a Masters in Contemporary British Policy and Media from the University of London.[29][30]
In May 2021,Asghar was highlighted as one of British Vogue's "5 Forces For Change".[31] She was named as one of the BBC's 100 Women in December 2021.[32]
Notes
↑ As just Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education 12 December 2024 - 23 July 2025
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