Nigerian-born Kate Osamor appointed British shadow women and equalities minister

NIGERIAN-born Member of Parliament representing Edmonton constituency Kate Osamor has been appointed to the British shadow cabinet by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who has named her his shadow minister for women and equalities.

 

Following last week’s spate of resignations from the Labour Party front bench, leader of the opposition Mr Corbyn, had to conduct a cabinet reshuffle. As part of the changes, several new faces have been appointed to the Labour front bench and Ms Osamor, who was elected as an MP at the last election with 25,388 votes, was among those promoted.

 

Ms Osamor, 47, had been appointed as the parliamentary private secretary to Mr Corbyn in October  as a reward for being one of his most loyal supporters, During the Labour Party's leadership campaign, she was one of the 35 MPs who nominated Mr Corbyn to get his name onto the ballot sheet.

 

Ms Osamor said: “Proud to announce that I have been appointed to the Labour Party frontbench as a junior shadow minister for women and equalities.”

 

Born in north London to Nigerian parents, Ms Osamor was first elected on to the Labour Party's National Executive Committee to represent constituency members in 2014. Back then, she was elected alongside several party heavyweights including Ken Livingstone, Ann Black, Ellie Reeves, Christine Shawcroft and Johanna Baxter.  

 

A National Health Service manager for 15 years, Ms Osamor is a trade union activist and a women's charity trustee.  She is one of four Nigerian MPs in parliament including Chi Onwurah representing Newcastle Central, Chuka Umunna representing Streatham and Helen Grant, the sole Nigerian MP in the Conservative Party representing Maidstone and the Weald.