Lord Wajid Khan of Burnley, graduate and former academic, has been appointed Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
A University of Central Lancashire alumnus and former academic has been appointed as a Minister in the House of Lords.
Lord Wajid Khan of Burnley has been appointed Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.
Serving under Deputy Prime Minister the Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, he is believed to be the first University of Central Lancashire alumni to hold a position at this ministerial level.
Lord Khan said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed to such a prestigious position.
“During my time in the House of Lords, I have worked tirelessly to ensure we, as the Second Chamber of UK Parliament, examined bills and asked questions of the Government. In my new role, I will continue to do that but will have a focus on how we can improve the lives of people within the UK.”
"I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed to such a prestigious position"
— Alumnus Lord Wajid Khan of Burnley, Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
In 2021, the former Senior Lecturer and Course Leader in community leadership was appointed the youngest opposition life peer in the House of Lords aged 41. He was nominated for the honour by the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
He has previously been spokesperson for the Labour Party on human rights and has worked on projects to empower women from minority communities, young offenders and homeless people.
Last year he became the first person to receive an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Gujrat and he was the youngest Mayor of Burnley.
During his time in politics, Lord Khan has been a local councillor for the Daneshouse and Stoneyholme ward in the east of the red rose county and he served as an MEP for the North West from 2017 to 2019. While in the European Parliament, he was a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Human Rights Subcommittee.
"As an impressive alumnus and former staff member, he is a shining example of what our graduates can achieve"
— Professor Graham Baldwin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Central Lancashire
While he was an academic, he was awarded the Sitara-i-Qaide Azam Award by the President of Pakistan for his work on International Human Rights, is also a fellow of the prestigious Higher Education Academy.
Professor Graham Baldwin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Central Lancashire, said: “We are immensely proud of the work Wajid is doing in the House of Lords and we’re thrilled his efforts have been rewarded with his appointment as Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.
“As an impressive alumnus and former staff member, he is a shining example of what our graduates can achieve.”