Hi, my name is Dr Shaukat Ali and I am standing as the the Independent Parliamentary Candidate for Birmingham Erdington.

Full statement

Britain is broken! Look around:

- NHS - Perpetual state of crisis – BROKEN!

- Education - Broken!

- Border Security - Broken!

- Economy - Broken!

- Social Welfare - Broken!

- Housing - Broken!

- Transport - Broken!

- Criminal justice system - Broken!

- Public services - Broken!

- Parliament - Broken!

You name it – it is Broken! NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK ANYMORE!

Britain is in a state of decay. Enough is enough. Who is to blame? Just ask yourself which 2 parties have governed the UK for the past 100 years and you will find an answer. What they offer is not change, but their turn. Do your bit to remould British politics for the common good, not the few.

Let’s reset our moral compass Tens of thousands of innocent women and children are being bombed, killed and starved in Palestine, yet the main parties are silent. Your MP even voted against a ceasefire.

All life sacred. Where is our common humanity? De-humanising any group is always morally reprehensible. Have your say - an immediate ceasefire and recognition of a Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders. Then work for a comprehensive peace settlement where all people in the holy lands can in peace, security and safety.

What am I standing for? I am not member of any political party and not mouthing their pledges. Below are key issues I will have privilege to speak on and influence change if elected:

Education: Abolition of university tuition fees & introduction of maintenance grants; Overhaul university funding; Overhaul schooling – No children left behind. Massive increase in apprenticeships. Closer links between schools, further education, higher education providers and businesses.

-NHS: Serious bottom to top reform and increase in funding.

-Housing: Rebuild social housing stock.

-Business: Abolish business rates for small to medium businesses.

-Public ownership: Restoration of public ownership of utilities and rail system

-Immigration: Secure our borders; remove international students from net migration numbers.

-Tax: Increase in thresholds in line with inflation now.

-Ethical foreign policy: your taxes should not be going to bomb and maim innocent women and children.

WHY ERDINGTON? Erdington is diverse, with pockets of high deprivation, but also many well-off areas. I can identify with both. I grew up in a similarly deprived area. I was the first in my family to go to university. I spent my childhood and youth in a 2 up, 2 down terrace house, in an area where some houses still had an outside toilet. I know first-hand, the experiences of working-class people. I know what it feels to struggle & strive, work hard and achieve a better life for myself and my family.

Who AM I? I am a Muslim, Pakistani, Punjabi, and first-generation immigrant and came to the UK over 50 years ago. Unable to speak any English, my schooling was limited, and I left school without any qualifications. Through luck, timely mentors, hard work, and God’s grace, I went on to achieve 4 degrees, professional qualifications, and a professional career.

- An internationally known academician and scholar.

- A committed union member (UCU)

- My central passion is education and its magical transformative powers to shape the lives of individuals, their families, their societies, and nations.

What have I done?

- Over 35-year career in the UK and abroad.

- Combined 65 years of dedicated public/civic service

- 16 years Trustee of a UK healthcare charity

- 12 years Trustee and treasurer of an Islamic Foundation.

- 8 years as elected trustee of a national disability charity.

- 8 years primary school governor.

- 9 years as 6th Form College governor.

- 12 years Parish Councillor.