Shivani Raja is a British Conservative politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Leicester East since July 2024. Her election marked a significant political shift, as she became the first Conservative to win the seat in 37 years, ending a long-standing Labour dominance in the constituency.

Early Life and Education

Born on 21 July 1994 in Rushey Mead, Leicester, Shivani Raja is a first-generation British citizen. Her father emigrated from Kenya, and her mother from Rajkot, India, in the 1970s. She attended Herrick Primary School, Soar Valley College, and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College. Raja earned a First Class Honours degree in Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science from De Montfort University.

Professional Career

Before entering politics, Raja built a career in the cosmetics industry. She worked with major UK brands such as Boots, Superdrug, and The Body Shop, focusing on product development and innovation. In 2017, she was a semi-finalist in the Miss India UK beauty pageant.

Political Career

In May 2024, Raja was selected as the Conservative candidate for Leicester East. She won the seat in the July 2024 general election with 14,526 votes, defeating Labour’s Rajesh Agrawal, who received 10,100 votes citeturn0search5. Her victory was notable as it was the only seat gained by the Conservatives in that election.

Upon entering Parliament, Raja took the Oath of Allegiance holding the Bhagavad Gita, reflecting her Hindu faith. She was appointed as a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Shadow Equalities Office under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership.

Personal Life

Shivani Raja married businessman Utkarsh Thakkar on 7 February 2023. She maintains strong ties to her community in Leicester and continues to be involved in local initiatives.

For more information, you can visit her official website: shivaniraja.uk.