Nusrat Ghani: Background, Career, and Chairman of Ways and Means

When Nusrat Ghani took her seat as Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Ways and Means in July 2024, she didn’t just take on one of the most senior roles in the House of Commons — she made history as the first Muslim woman to do so. Her journey from a state comprehensive school to the Speaker’s chair is a story of steady political rise and quiet determination.

Full name: Nusrat Munir Ul-Ghani (Wikipedia) · Born: 1 September 1972 (Wikipedia) · Political party: Conservative (UK Government) · Constituency: Sussex Weald (UK Government) · Role: Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Ways and Means (Nusrat Ghani official site) · Years as MP: 2015–present (UK Government)

Five items, one pattern: Nusrat Ghani’s career has moved steadily from the backbenches to the Speaker’s chair, each role building on the last — from transport minister to trade minister, then Europe minister, and now the second-highest officer of the House.

What is Nusrat Ghani’s background?

Early life and education

• Born on 1 September 1972 to Pakistani-origin parents in Birmingham (Wikipedia)
• Attended a state comprehensive school before pursuing higher education (UK Government)
• Earned a degree in Government and Politics from Birmingham City University and a master’s in International Relations from the University of Leeds (UK Government)

Political career

• First elected as Conservative MP for Wealden in 2015, becoming the first female MP to represent the seat (ICS Shipping)
• Served as Assistant Government Whip (2018–2019) and Government Whip (2019) (UK Government)
• Appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport in January 2018, overseeing maritime, HS2, buses, and accessibility (UK Government)
• Held the role of Minister of State for Business and Trade and the Investment Security Unit from February 2023 to March 2024 (UK Government)
• Served as Minister of State for Europe in the Foreign Office from March to July 2024 (UK Government)
• Elected Chairman of Ways and Means and Deputy Speaker in July 2024 after the general election (Nusrat Ghani official site)

Personal life

• Married to Nabeel Shabir, a strategy consultant; the couple lives in the constituency (Wikipedia)
• Known for her work on diversity in Parliament and as a role model for Muslim women in British politics (London International Shipping Week)

What this means: Nusrat Ghani’s background reflects a blend of state education, academic specialisation in politics and international relations, and steady ministerial progression — a profile that equips her well for the impartial, procedural demands of the Speaker’s chair.

Who is the current chairman of Ways and Means?

Role and responsibilities

• The Chairman of Ways and Means is the senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, responsible for chairing debates, authorising money resolutions, and overseeing the legislative process when the Speaker is absent (Wikipedia)
• The role also chairs the Committee of Ways and Means, which handles taxation and supply bills (Nusrat Ghani official site)

Nusrat Ghani’s appointment

• Elected by the House on 23 July 2024, following the general election (Nusrat Ghani official site)
• She is the first Muslim woman and the second woman to hold the position (London International Shipping Week)
• Her election was widely seen as a milestone for representation in Westminster (Policyline)

The implication: Ghani steps into a role that combines tradition with reform — she must balance the ceremonial weight of the Chairman’s chair with the day-to-day demands of running an efficient, modern House.

Who is the deputy speaker of the House of Commons?

Deputy Speakers’ roles

• There are three Deputy Speakers: the Chairman of Ways and Means, the First Deputy Chairman, and the Second Deputy Chairman (Wikipedia)
• They deputise for the Speaker by chairing debates, maintaining order, and ensuring parliamentary procedure is followed (UK Government)
• Deputy Speakers are elected by the House after a general election and are expected to be impartial (Commonwealth Parliamentary Association)

Current Deputy Speakers

• Nusrat Ghani serves as the senior Deputy Speaker (Chairman of Ways and Means) (Nusrat Ghani official site)
• The other Deputy Speakers are elected from different parties to reflect the balance of the House (Wikipedia)

The trade-off: With multiple deputies, the House gains continuity and flexibility, but coordinating three independent chairs requires clear communication and trust — Ghani’s experience as a minister managing cross-departmental files will be tested.

Who is the second deputy chairman of Ways and Means?

Role of second deputy chairman

• The Second Deputy Chairman assists the Chairman of Ways and Means and the First Deputy Chairman in presiding over debates and committees (Wikipedia)
• This role is often filled by a Labour or third-party MP to ensure cross-party representation in the Deputy Speaker team (Commonwealth Parliamentary Association)

Current holder

• As of the 2024 Parliament, the Second Deputy Chairman is Judith Cummins MP (Labour) (Wikipedia)
• Cummins was elected alongside Ghani and the First Deputy Chairman, ensuring the panel includes both Conservative and Labour members (UK Government)

Why this matters: The composition of the Deputy Speaker team sends a signal about the House’s commitment to bipartisanship — Ghani’s leadership at the top of the panel sets a tone for the entire chamber.

Who is MP for Crowborough?

Crowborough constituency

• Crowborough is a town within the Sussex Weald constituency, created in 2024 from parts of the former Wealden seat (UK Government)
• The constituency covers towns such as Crowborough, Uckfield, and Heathfield, and is a largely rural area in East Sussex (Wikipedia)

Current MP

• Nusrat Ghani has represented the area since she was first elected for Wealden in 2015, and was re-elected for the newly drawn Sussex Weald seat in 2024 (UK Government)
• She won the 2024 election with a majority of 6,322, a swing that reflected the national Conservative decline but still a comfortable margin (Commonwealth Parliamentary Association)

For the residents of Crowborough, having an MP who also serves as Deputy Speaker means local issues may get extra attention in the House — but also that Ghani must balance constituency work with her impartial parliamentary duties.

“The Chairman of Ways and Means is the senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, responsible for chairing debates, authorising money resolutions, and overseeing the legislative process when the Speaker is absent.”

Wikipedia (biographical summary)

“Nusrat Ghani was appointed Minister of State for Europe in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 26 March 2024, serving until 5 July 2024.”

UK Government (official profile)

Summary

Nusrat Ghani’s rise from Birmingham comprehensive schools to the second-highest office in the House of Commons is a concrete demonstration that the UK Parliament is slowly diversifying its leadership. For the Conservative Party, her impartial new role means losing a frontbencher but gaining a symbol of representation that can attract a broader electorate. For aspiring Muslim women in politics, the implication is clear: the path is opening, but it still requires a decade of patient, visible service — and the willingness to step away from partisan combat when the chair calls.

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