Who Is Uma Kumaran? First Tamil-Origin Woman Elected To UK Parliament

Uma Kumaran made history as the first Tamil woman elected to the parliament of the United Kingdom from Stratford and Bow. The Sri Lankan-origin member of the Labour Party is the first-generation daughter of immigrants from worn-torn Jaffna who came to London in 1980. Kumaran secured 19,000 votes, exceeding her opponent by over a 12,000 vote margin. She has been a parliamentary researcher and also worked with the National Health Service for a few years. Kumaran hopes to not only be a voice for the people of Stratford and Bow but also for British Tamils.

From Parliament Researcher To Member Of Parliament

Kumaran's parents had left for the UK to escape the conflict in Sri Lanka. She was born in East London and raised in Harrow. She went to Queen Mary University to secure a Bachelor of Arts degree. Kumaran started her career in the government in December 2007, when she worked in the NHS.

For about 14 months, she worked in the NHS for the current Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. She then started working as a parliamentary researcher and caseworker for MP Dawn Butler and worked with several lawmakers of the Labour Party before she unsuccessfully contested the local body elections in 2010.

Kumaran has been the deputy director of Parliamentary Affairs for Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer for over 18 months. She has also worked with the United Nations, scientists and activists to mitigate climate change worldwide. "Every job for me has always been with purpose," she told Tamil Guardian.

Kumaran believes that the values of the Labour Party "run deep in (my) blood". In an interview with the Colombo-based outlet, she said, "My grandad was one of Jaffna’s first Trade Unionists... Both my grandfathers were civil servants and always had a sense of public service. This runs throughout my family."

As one of the first Tamil women to run for the Parliament, she noted that many immigrant parents do not see politics and administration as a sustainable career. However, leading by example, she hopes that more people from Tamil backgrounds are encouraged to take up this profession. 

It is the honour of my life to be elected to serve as the first ever member of parliament for Stratford and Bow

Thank you to all who placed your trust in me and in the Labour party.

I’ll always be your voice and your representative.

I wont let you down 🌹 pic.twitter.com/IriJCAvTU7

— Uma Kumaran (@Uma_Kumaran) July 5, 2024

"Representation matters. We need more women, people from working-class backgrounds, ethnic minorities, and LGBTQ+, persons overall. A diversity of lived experiences and backgrounds can bring so much to public life," she told Tamil Guardian. She aspires to be a voice for proud British Tamils.