Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords.
If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, ideally including key arguments for
the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where
requested.
No. 27: Dr Prem Sharma
Humphry Crum Ewing writes:
"All those who have met, and come to know, Dr Prem Sharma will, I believe, share my view that his nomination by the Conservative Party to a place in the House of Lords would be abundantly justified. He is someone who, having come to make his home in this country, personifies the belief which he proclaims, that those who do so should participate to the full in our national life.
"His commitment and successes in unresting and continuing work for the broader community are remarkable. Together they amount to an admirable record of public service, with, undoubtedly, more still to come. He has undertaken valuable voluntary public service and directly charitable activity and has at the same time worked to advance trade and investment. What follows should be seen as an indicative rather an exhaustive catalogue of his interests and good works and of the causes and organisations which he has supported.
"At the top of his current agenda is the Things Do Change Programme directed to 11 – 19 year olds in schools, madrassas and youth groups and already being mounted by the Calderdale Council Community Services. This is a training programme that aims to prevent violent extremism among young people and to encourage tolerance and community cohesion.
"He is the founder-Chairman of the India Development Trust, a UK registered charity established in 1994; Chairman (since 1999) of the Governing & Advisory Council of the Shiva Institute of Management Studies (India) and (since 2002) of the Governing & Advisory Council of Halifax College (Harrow, Leicester and Edinburgh).
"Locally he has served as a school governor, as the elected chairman of the Patient Care panel of the Royal Berkshire & Battle Hospital Trust and since 1990 of his local Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.
"Before moving to this country he contributed his skills as a Veterinary Surgeon and Chartered Biologist to the regional Government of Kano Nigeria (as Permanent secretary for Agriculture) and as Project director of various World Bank-funded projects in Saudi Arabia.. Since coming to live in the UK he has worked closely with several Government Departments.
"Pursuant to his belief in participating fully in our national life he has given extensive service to the Conservative Party – the party of his choice. His credentials as a Conservative at both the national level and, more particularly the local level, are indeed notable.
"As his successor as President of the Reading East Constituency Conservative Association I can speak on behalf of all our members in recognising the contribution he has made since his first election to our Executive Council 32 years ago in 1977. He has served as Vice Chairman, Chairman and President, and has since been appointed to the specially created office of Honorary Life President.
"Between August 1998 and August 2001 he was Chairman of the Conservative Party’s Berkshire Area, having previously served as a member of the Executive Committee of the former Wessex Area. At a national level he was an elected member of the Executive Committee of the National Union from 1990 to 1995; he has been Founder Patron and a Committee member of the Conservative Parliamentary Friends of India since 2001 and of the European Parliamentary Friends of India since 2003."
Dr Sharma is also an honorary advisor to the British Asian Conservative Link, on whose website you can read more about his activities in the fields of politics, charity and public and community service.
Jonathan Isaby
> Previous nomination: Lurline Champagnie
