Shreela Flather, Baroness Flather
Encyclopedia
Shreela Flather, Baroness Flather (born 13 February 1934) is a teacher and British
politician.
She became a life peer
for the Conservative party
in 11 June 1990 as Baroness Flather, of Windsor and Maidenhead in the Royal County of Berkshire
. She was the first Asian woman to receive a peerage. In 1998 she resigned the Conservative whip
over the demotion of Viscount Cranborne
for his actions to reduce the impact of the 1999 House of Lords Act
. She rejoined the party in 1999, but left a second time in 2008, since when she has sat as a crossbencher.
Baroness Flather attended University College London
and is married to Gary Denis Flather. She has served as Deputy Mayor and as Mayor for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
.
She has also been a teacher of English as a second language and a member of the Conservative Women's National Committee. Baroness Flather has been recognised as Asian Who's Who Asian of the Year 1996. She has served senior posts in various organisations involved in refugee, community, race relations and prison work.
As a member of the House of Lords
, she gained attention for wearing a sari
and for being among the first ethnic minorities in the house.
Baroness Flather is a distinguished supporter of the British Humanist Association
and an honorary associate of the National Secular Society
. She is one of the Vice Chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group. She lives in Maidenhead
with her husband.
She is patron of the British branch of Child In Need India
(CINI UK) and of Population Matters.
In September 2011 she suggested people in the British Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities had a large number of children in order to be able to claim more benefits.Her accusations against Pakistanis and Bangladeshis come as a surprise to some peers as she hails from a large extended indian family herself, thereby she was seen as criticizing her own relatives. These comments were not backed up by any statistical evidence.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician.
She became a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
for the Conservative party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
in 11 June 1990 as Baroness Flather, of Windsor and Maidenhead in the Royal County of Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. She was the first Asian woman to receive a peerage. In 1998 she resigned the Conservative whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
over the demotion of Viscount Cranborne
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury
Robert Michael James Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury, PC, DL , is a British Conservative politician. During the 1990s, he was Leader of the House of Lords under his courtesy title of Viscount Cranborne...
for his actions to reduce the impact of the 1999 House of Lords Act
House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. The Act reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. For centuries, the House of Lords had included several hundred members who inherited their seats;...
. She rejoined the party in 1999, but left a second time in 2008, since when she has sat as a crossbencher.
Baroness Flather attended University College London
University College London Law Faculty
The UCL Faculty of Laws is one of the 10 constituent faculties of University College London . It is one of the world’s premier law schools, renowned for the quality of its teaching and its cutting-edge legal research...
and is married to Gary Denis Flather. She has served as Deputy Mayor and as Mayor for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is a Royal Borough of Berkshire, in South East England. It became a unitary authority on 1 April 1998.It is home to Windsor Castle, Eton College, Legoland and Ascot Racecourse....
.
She has also been a teacher of English as a second language and a member of the Conservative Women's National Committee. Baroness Flather has been recognised as Asian Who's Who Asian of the Year 1996. She has served senior posts in various organisations involved in refugee, community, race relations and prison work.
As a member of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, she gained attention for wearing a sari
Sari
A sari or sareeThe name of the garment in various regional languages include: , , , , , , , , , , , , , is a strip of unstitched cloth, worn by females, ranging from four to nine metres in length that is draped over the body in various styles. It is popular in India, Bangladesh, Nepal,...
and for being among the first ethnic minorities in the house.
Baroness Flather is a distinguished supporter of the British Humanist Association
British Humanist Association
The British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism and represents "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs." The BHA is committed to secularism, human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and mutual respect...
and an honorary associate of the National Secular Society
National Secular Society
The National Secular Society is a British campaigning organisation that promotes secularism and the separation of church and state. It holds that no-one should gain advantage or disadvantage because of their religion or lack of religion. It was founded by Charles Bradlaugh in 1866...
. She is one of the Vice Chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group. She lives in Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
with her husband.
She is patron of the British branch of Child In Need India
Child In Need Institute (CINI)
CINI, known internationally as Child In Need India and in India as the Child In Need Institute, is an international humanitarian organisation aimed at promoting "sustainable development in health, nutrition and education of child, adolescent and woman in need" in India...
(CINI UK) and of Population Matters.
In September 2011 she suggested people in the British Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities had a large number of children in order to be able to claim more benefits.Her accusations against Pakistanis and Bangladeshis come as a surprise to some peers as she hails from a large extended indian family herself, thereby she was seen as criticizing her own relatives. These comments were not backed up by any statistical evidence.
Family
The Baroness is the great granddaughter of Sir Ganga Ram, a noted engineer, philanthropist and agriculturist during the late 19th century and early 20th century in Punjab, British India.External links
- Dharma-Has It Impacted The UK Political Scene? Hinduism Today - April 1995
- Hansard records