Naz Shah Makes History: First Muslim MP to Move the Loyal Address in UK Parliament

Añadido: 2026-05-21

[00:00:00]That's short.

[00:00:03][cheering] >> I beg to move that a humble address be presented to his majesty as follows.

[00:00:10]Most gracious sovereign, we, your majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects of the commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to your majesty for the gracious speech which your majesty has addressed to both houses of parliament. It would be remiss of me not to say a few words about the outstanding state visit by his majesty to the United States.

[00:00:38]We saw eloquent oretry, remarkable wit and genuine statesmanship from his majesty presenting President Trump with the original brass bell inscribed with his name before he was even born from the Second World War submarine HMS.

[00:00:55]Trump suggesting that if they need us to give us a ring was a master stroke in diplomacy.

[00:01:05]His Majesty returned very humbly, of course, having secured the lifting of trade barriers on Scotch whiskey.

[00:01:14]>> Given the performance, I was rather worried his majesty might come back with the 13 colonies as well.

[00:01:26]>> It is it is a huge honor for me and my constituents of Bradford West to move the loyal address.

[00:01:33]>> This is a This is the second time my constituency of Bradford West has been honored in this way. In 1959, the then member for Bradford West, Arthur Tyl, seconded the loyal address. When the chief whip called me about today, my first reaction, like many across this house, when the chief called is, "Uh-oh, what am I doing?"

[00:01:56]But then that, "Uh-oh," soon turned into, "Oh my days, no way." with their biggest smile ever. I remember clearly listening to the speeches my by my honorable friends the members for BHL as well as Vauxhall and Camberwell Green >> the last time this occasion happened and thinking now that is an honor. Had I known God was listening I'd have asked to win the Euromillions.

[00:02:24][laughter] In fact, Mr. Speaker, had I known not always voting with the government also works, I might HAVE [laughter] [laughter] I am indeed humbled and honored primarily for being trusted by the people of Bradford West for placing their faith in me and sending me to this place.

[00:02:50]given this opportunity to be the first ever Muslim to propose the loyal address in this chamber >> and of course seeing the meltdown of the far right online [laughter] even an act of domination.

[00:03:12][laughter] So in light of this in light of this I must assure them this is not a takeover [laughter] I must state it is as per convention a joke [laughter] but if but if seeing a black if seeing black and brown people on TV makes you feel sick, my speech is going to make you vomit.

[00:03:51][cheering] >> On a more serious note, Mr. Speaker, over the last few months, I have had the opportunity to tell my own story, a story of my life and the challenges I faced growing up.

[00:04:09]I often pinch myself whilst in this chamber questioning how could a girl who lived the life I lived be given such an honor to represent her city in the mother of all parliaments.

[00:04:22]>> Mr. Speaker, it is because despite the challenges we may face as a nation and the differences in approaches we present across this house.

[00:04:32]I know without a doubt that as someone who comes from the ethnic, religious and socioeconomic background that I came from, whose entire life crashed before her, I would never have been given such an honor in any other country than this one.

[00:04:52]>> My own country, >> our country.

[00:04:56]>> For me, there is no nation greater than ours.

[00:05:00]>> We are the greatest nation on earth. and I am a true patriot.

[00:05:07]>> Raised in abject poverty, living in a single room because we couldn't afford to heat the whole house and suffering tuberculosis as a result. I understand firsthand what this means. Therefore, I welcome the continued commitment from the government to prioritize addressing the cost of living crisis.

[00:05:28]In doing so, we cannot ignore the instability across the world around us.

[00:05:33]The plight of the Palestinians, the war in Ukraine, the instability of the in the strait of Hamuz and the growing global threats for which we must also be ready for.

[00:05:44]>> Living in a globalized world means there is an ever growing connection between the local, the national and the international. What happens out there reaches every home and doorstep across every constituency.

[00:05:58]>> The defense of our country is rightfully also amongst these top agenda items.

[00:06:04]>> As a proud graduate of the armed forces parliamentary scheme, which by the way I recommend to all members to take part and support, I have nothing but admiration and thanks for those who have served and continue to serve to protect our tomorrow.

[00:06:21]Mr. Speaker, I also have the honor to serve as the prime minister's trade envoy for Indonesia and the AEAN, a region of more than 660 million people and a hugely important geopolitical and trade corridor. I welcome the continued commitment to strengthening our place across the world. Without international trade and growth in our economy, we cannot deliver the jobs, investment, and support we need across our country. I will continue to play my part in securing trade and investment for the UK and championing British business abroad with colleagues from across this house.

[00:07:00]>> Closer to home, I had the honor to serve on the bill, the assisted dying bill committee. Something beyond party lines where I had the opportunity to work with colleagues from across the house, including the work I did with the honorable member for East Wilshire.

[00:07:17]Whilst I didn't eventually support the bill, I paid tribute to the member for Batley and Spven for her word, >> commitment, and passion.

[00:07:27]>> Talking about beyond party lines, Mr. Speaker, I noted with interest, as I'm sure the whole nation did, too. The previous duchy of Lancaster, the noble Lord G's rather peculiar fascination with our home secretary.

[00:07:43]He actually confessed to browsing the internet for her images.

[00:07:49]>> Thankfully, Mr. Speaker, knowing our home secretary, as I do, I'm confident that this is not the kind of cross party mistreat she would reciprocate.

[00:08:01][laughter] But I do have a guilty pleasure of my own.

[00:08:08]>> And no, it's not a Tory.

[00:08:11][laughter] Unfortunately for my calorie count, it is custard and cake. [laughter] I blame Godfrey and Sharon in the tea room for their >> their unwavering encouragement to indulge sparingly.

[00:08:35]I am the proud I'm proud to be the first woman elected to Parliament for the constituency of Bradford West.

[00:08:42]>> A constituency with a history of extraordinary women who broke every barrier that patriarchy put in front of them.

[00:08:51]>> The Bronte sisters changed English literature forever, >> but had to use men's names to publish their writing.

[00:08:58]>> The subroets of Bradford went to Hol prison for the right to vote. The women of Manningham Mills walked out into the cold, changing our political landscape forever. Margaret McMillan pioneered free school meals and they were trial in 1904 in the school I attended, Green Lane Primary, leading to the education act of 1906, which cemented free school meals into our history. Amen.

[00:09:26]>> And Barbara Castle, shaped by Bradford Streets and schools, went on to write equal pay into law.

[00:09:34]>> And I am proud to serve alongside equally formidable women with the member of Bradford South and indeed the member for Shipley.

[00:09:42]>> There is something in the air in Bradford as a whole. Something that produces women who will not be told. I promise this house I have zero intention of breaking the If today our country beams with pride because of the many great changes made by successive Labor governments, none of it would have been possible without the women who led the Manningham mill strike which then led to the founding of the independent labor party conceived and formed in Bradford West. It was in Bradford that a man named Kia first took the chair of the labor movement. And despite 130 years, two world wars and roughly 47 leadership elections, the party remains in the hands of a [cheering] >> prime minister. Nobody can say that you don't know how to fight on.

[00:10:46]I could not make this speech without recognizing David Hawkchney, a boy from a Bradford terrace who pushed his paintings around the city in a pram.

[00:10:55]David went on to become the world's most famous living artist. David once said that if you look closely, Bradford is a city with magic. I don't know whether he was looking into the future and literally describing Bradford's magician dynamo, Zane Malik's magical music or our leg spinning world cupwinning magic of our very own Adel Rashid. But Bradford is without question a place of wonders. Bradford is also a place of culture. The jewel in the crown as it is often referred to is the Bradford Literature Festival. now one of the largest in the UK literature festivals and the largest of its kind with throughout Europe pairing excellence with access for those who would otherwise be excluded from culture. In 2025 Bradford was proud to be named UK city of culture home to a rich diverse population built on the back of a historic title as the wool capital of the world. In the n 1850s, German Jewish merchants came to Bradford and built the magnificent warehouses of what we now call Little Germany, helping to make Bradford a globing global trading city and the proud home of the oldest synagogue in the north.

[00:12:11]>> A synagogue that recently the Muslim community stepped in to save when the roof was about to cave in, >> illustrating the relationship within the Muslim and Jewish community in Bradford.

[00:12:24]A century later, men from Azad Jammu and Kashmir and India and Pakistan arrived in the 50s and 60s, working tireless nights shifts to keep the mills running, ensuring Britain's economy continued to flourish after the Second World War.

[00:12:42]Each generation of newcomers didn't just come to Bradford, [clears throat] they built Bradford.

[00:12:51]>> Mr. Speaker, >> chicken tikka masala might be the UK's national dish, but I must inform the whole house that you have not had a curry until you have had a Bradford curry.

[00:13:05]Whether it is the legendary family naans on trees invented by the late king of Kurish Shabir Hussein the founder of Akbars the subcontinental flavors of Argra Montazars jinar my laor or any one of the hundreds of restaurants across the city Bradford does curry like nowhere else >> the curries are that good they even defy the CURRENT MANGARO JAM >> [laughter] [laughter] >> A NOTE TO THE HOUSE SECRETARY, he may well have to develop a stronger solution. [laughter] I recommend Bradford's Curry to all members of this house.

[00:13:52]Now that Bradford has a few reform counselors, perhaps a member for Clapton, who I see is not in his place. could pay for could pay a visit and treat them to a good curry followed by a pint brewed in Bradford.

[00:14:09]>> In fact, in fact, given the size of his recent gift that we are now all well aware of, [cheering] >> he could probably take half of Bradford out and still be left with plenty of cheese.

[00:14:29]Bradford is, Mr. Speaker, the youngest city in the United Kingdom. It has been named the most entrepreneurial, too.

[00:14:36]Morrison's grew from a market stall in our city to a household name. It's a place where I promise this house there is no poverty of aspiration, talent or ambition. But the poverty of infrastructure over decades has left us behind. Bradford is turning a corner.

[00:14:56]270 million of in public sector investment is building private sector confidence with a combined pipeline now reaching 2.3 billion. I am grateful for our government support which includes a new hospital in Airdale 2 billion integrated settlement for West Yorkshire giving our Labor Mayor Tracy Brabin the power and flexibility to invest in local jobs new homes and improving skills. at Bradford City Station. 2.1 billion investment in transport for the city regions, funding, enabling West Yorkshire to deliver mass transit, better buses, and repair our roads and potholes.

[00:15:37]>> All of this is pumping confidence into a city ready for investors to benefit from its untapped potential. Northern Powerhouse Rail is not a nice to have.

[00:15:48]It is the difference between Bradford's young people building their futures at home or building them else somewhere else.

[00:15:56]>> On this occasion, I would also like to pay my thanks to all the House staff across the estate >> who ensure that Parliament can play the role that it does. They are hugely deserving of our appreciation for everything they do. And outside of this place, the security services and our police forces >> who keep us safe with the everinccreasing risks and threats to our democracy.

[00:16:22]>> Given the magnitude of this moment, I would also like to emphasize the huge weight and burden of responsibility on our shoulders.

[00:16:31]>> When we speak in this chamber, it carries meaning and impact. It impacts that boy who takes off his kipa.

[00:16:41]>> The girl who removes her hijab, >> fearing for their safety because their race and religion has become a political football.

[00:16:51]an attack on anyone or anyone's place of worship be it a synagogue, a mosque, a church, a temple, a good or or of any kind of religious institution is an attack on our British way of life.

[00:17:09]We must strengthen our communities against the rising tide of nationalism and populism.

[00:17:16]>> In a world ever more dangerous, an online world ever more toxic, society more than ever needs unity, calmness, and leadership >> to make our country the best it can be.

[00:17:29]The burden of responsibility falls on all our shoulders, and it has never been greater. [clears throat] >> Mr. Speaker, it is also convention to part with words of wisdom for those who are slightly newer to this place. With that in mind, I simply say this. Nurture the pragmatism of being an elected representative of the people who have put their trust in you and sent you here. But never forget the passion of an activist. Keep that fire burning because it is indeed that passion that will sustain you and carry you through >> because sometimes it gets difficult here.

[00:18:16]>> Mr. Speaker, a king speech is meant to be a fresh start. Parliament's version of clearing the kitchen table, making room for the work ahead and gathering the family round, reminding ourselves what the country has sent us here to do.

[00:18:32]>> As honorable members may know, I believe in a full table. You make space.

[00:18:38]Hospitality matters in my home. You listen, you serve people properly. But good hospitality and politics itself is more than who speaks first or indeed the loudest. It's about noticing the quiet ones, those who may be less organized, not as powerful, but nonetheless equally if not more important, the voiceless whose voices we need to become.

[00:19:05]>> Mr. Speaker, for someone like me who spent her formative years fighting a campaign to release her mother from prison, who did not have a formal education beyond the age of 12, spelling, grammar, and parliamentary language and phrases don't come naturally. Forced into a marriage at 15, forced to live with a life with herinades. Lug in a black bin liner of belongings as a homeless teenager. Left all alone as a guardian to a younger brother and sister without a shoulder of support or stability in life attempting suicide as I couldn't see a way out from my despair. Yet here I stand >> with the world's eyes watching the state opening of parliament on this momentous occasion given the privileges privilege of this moment.

[00:19:58]If this was not my story, I would only believe it to be fiction.

[00:20:02]>> But the truth is there can be a light at the end of a tunnel.

[00:20:08]>> Because as I believe and my life personified for me, after hardship comes ease. I stood in this chamber for the first time and pinched myself. I still do. Where someone like me can end up like somewhere like here, representing the city I love in the mother of all parliaments. Bradford and my country gave me everything. I intend to spend every day in this house returning the favor. It is an honor of my life to move the loyal address on behalf of the people of Bradford West. I commend the motion to the house.

[00:20:46][cheering]