ABOUT AQILA

Occupation: Chief Executive of People in Action UK

Education: Open University Certificate in Management

Memberships: Volunteering as a Board Member of several Leeds Charities; Amnesty; Oxfam; Coalition Against the War

Interests: Walking, spending time with family

 

BIOGRAPHY

Aqila Choudhry lives in Leeds North East and has been a Leeds resident for 38 years.

She works as Chief Executive of People in Action, a local charity for equality and inclusion of people with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Aqila has worked at Chapeltown Citizens Advice Bureau and has extensive knowledge of issues affecting the diverse communities of Leeds North East.

She is fluent in three languages - English, Urdu and Punjabi.

Aqila is committed to change which will help ordinary people.

Aqila is working with local Lib Dem councillors to improve our area, to provide affordable and better insulated homes, and better social and leisure facilities for young people.

Aqila wants everyone’s vote to count so is a keen advocate of electoral reform and an elected House of Lords.

She is committed to equal rights and equality of opportunity for all people, especially important for disabled people, older people, young people, women and minority ethnic groups.

Aqila has a keen interest in health, social care, education and crime which are key concerns of local residents.

Aqila helps people in the local community by securing grants for innovative projects both within her own organisation and others with which she is involved.

She is a trainer on domestic violence and is committed to implementing the Valuing People agenda for people with learning difficulties and disabilities.

A City Council election candidate in both 2006 and 2007.

Aqila's Liberal Democrat memberships include the Leeds North East Executive and Yorkshire & Humber Regional Executive and its Policy Sub Group and the Liberal Democrats English Council.

Aqila is Yorkshire and Humber’s Diversity Champion for the Liberal Democrats, a role that creates opportunities for involvement of all individuals interested in politics.

In 2007 and 2008, she was Agent for the successful Moortown Ward local election campaigns in Leeds North East.

Aqila's ambition is to become the first Liberal Democrat MP for Leeds North East and Britain's first Muslim woman MP.