Seema Malhotra MP, the Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Feltham and Heston, has been appointed by Sir Keir Starmer KC to be his Shadow Minister for Skills and Further Education. 

The influential portfolio sits at the heart of the Labour leader’s mission for breaking down the barriers to opportunity for everyone and shattering the class ceiling. 

Malhotra, who was elected in a by-election in 2011 to represent the constituency where she grew up and went to school, was the first Punjabi woman to be elected to Parliament.  

Prior to her appointment, she had served as Shadow Minister for Business and Consumers since 2021. 

She has held a number of positions since being elected, including as Shadow Minister for Employment, a member of the Exiting the European Union Select Committee, Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, a member of the Speaker’s Committee on Representation and Inclusion and Shadow Minister for Preventing Violence against Women and Girls. 

Speaking after her appointment, Malhotra said: “I’m honoured to have been appointed the Labour Party’s new Shadow Minister for Skills.” 

“I can’t wait to get to work with Bridget Phillipson and the rest of the Shadow Education team to deliver on our mission to break down the barriers to opportunity at every stage.” 

Bridget Phillipson, the Shadow Education Secretary, said:  

“Seema will reform our skills system so that people can gain new skills, access better jobs and grow our economy.” 

“We have a driving mission we will take, from opposition into government, to build a Britain where background is no barrier to opportunity.”