Shivani Raja (British Politician) Biography

Quick Info

Profession	Politician, Businesswoman
Nationality	British
Date of Birth	21/07/1994
Age	32 years
Birthplace	Rushey Mead, Leicester, England
Hometown	Rushey Mead

Latest News about Shivani Raja

15/08/2025

Shivani Raja publicly marked India’s 79th Independence Day with a message to supporters and constituents. Her post reflected her continued engagement with the British-Indian community in Leicester.

25/03/2025

The University of Leicester hosted Shivani Raja for her first official visit since being elected MP for Leicester East. The visit highlighted how the university supports local communities, businesses, and wider policy discussions.

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Bio/Wiki

Shivani Rajnikant Raja is a British Conservative Party politician.
She has served as the Member of Parliament for Leicester East since 2024.
She studied cosmetic science at De Montfort University and worked in the beauty and cosmetics industry before entering Parliament.

Physical Stats & More

Height	5' 4" (163 cm)
Eye Color	Black
Hair Color	Light Brown

Educational Qualification(s)

School	Herrick Primary School, Leicester
College/University	Soar Valley College, Leicester Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College (WQE), Leicester De Montfort University, Leicester
Educational Qualification	First Class Honours degree in Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science from De Montfort University

Personal Life

Religion	Hinduism
Ethnicity	Gujarati

Relationships & More

Marital Status	Married
Marriage Date	07/02/2023

Family

Spouse	Utkarsh Thakkar (businessman)

Career

Political Party	Conservative Party
Political Journey	Won the general elections from the Leicester East constituency as a Conservative Party candidate (2024) Appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Shadow Equalities Office under Kemi Badenoch (2024) Chosen to represent the Leicester East constituency as the Conservative candidate in the general elections (May 2024) Elected to the House of Commons from the Leicester East constituency with 14,526 votes, defeating Labour Party candidate Rajesh Agrawal (4 July 2024) Became the only Conservative candidate to end the Labour Party's 37-year hold on the Leicester East constituency during the 2024 general elections Took oath in the UK Parliament swearing by Bhagavad Gita (11 July 2024)
Professional Journey	Joined Boots, a retail pharmacy chain of Walgreens Boots Alliance, in Nottingham as an innovation technologist on 12 February 2016. Worked in the cosmetics department till 31 December 2017. Participated in the Miss India UK beauty pageant and emerged as a semi-finalist (2017). Worked at a health and beauty retail company named Superdrug from 12 June 2018 to 31 December 2019. Worked at a cosmetic company named ‘The Body Shop’ from 12 October 2019 to 30 June 2023. Later worked with brands like No7, Soap & Glory, and Botanics. Responsibilities included developing foundations, exploring new textures, and working on skincare products. Engaged in family business specializing in property construction and hospitality. Works at RÜUT Homes, a company founded by her husband Utkarsh Thakkar. Chosen to represent the Leicester East constituency as the Conservative candidate in the general elections (May 2024). Elected to the House of Commons from the Leicester East constituency with 14,526 votes, defeating Labour Party candidate Rajesh Agrawal (July 2024). Became the only Conservative candidate to end the Labour Party’s 37-year hold on the constituency during the 2024 general elections. Took oath in the UK Parliament swearing by Bhagavad Gita (11 July 2024).
Current Position	Member of Parliament for Leicester East
Parliamentary Committees	Women and Equalities Committee (25 November 2024 - 2 June 2025)
APPG Memberships	Ethnic Minority Business Owners India International Students Women in Parliament

Social Media

Instagram	https://www.instagram.com/shivaniraja/
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/Shivani4LE/
Official Website	https://www.shivaniraja.uk
LinkedIn	https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivani-raja-89977a86

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Shivani Raja was born and raised in Rushey Mead, Leicester, as a first-generation British citizen.
2. Her mother moved to the United Kingdom from Rajkot, while her father moved to the United Kingdom from Kenya in the 1970s.
3. After graduating from De Montfort University, Shivani volunteered at a one-month game reserve in South Africa. There, she engaged in adventurous activities like shark cage diving, bungee jumping from the world’s highest bridge, and abseiling down Table Mountain.
4. Shivani later worked with brands like No7, Soap & Glory, and Botanics. Responsibilities included developing foundations, exploring new textures, and working on skincare products.
5. During her election campaign, she focused on connecting with the British-Indian community in Leicester. Attended traditional garba events, visited local temples, and joined Daxesh Mavani, the Mayor of Surat, to emphasize her connection to her Indian heritage.
6. Shivani is an avid animal lover and has a pet dog.
7. She loves traveling and often shares her traveling experiences on social media.
8. She enjoys having coffee.

Shivani Raja Politician, Businesswoman British Rushey Mead, Leicester, England