Wales has elected its first woman of colour to the Senedd

Natasha Asghar makes history as the first woman of colour to become elected towards the Senedd.

She is one of four MSs elected to represent the South Wales East and her election makes her the first woman of colour to be elected towards the Senedd because it was formed in 1999.

Four members for that region have been elected in total – Ms Asghar and Laura Anne Jones in the Conservatives, and Delyth Jewell and Peredur Owen Gruffydd from Plaid Cymru.

Miss Asghar may be the daughter of Mohammad Asghar, known as Oscar, who was a regional MS for South Wales East until his unexpected death in June 2021. She helped him in his regional office, prior to going onto what her LinkedIn page has described as a varied spectrum of jobs including "TV presenter, Host, Author, Producer at Number 59 Productions, Youtube Creator, Voice Over Artist and Agony Aunt”.

Miss Asghar said she was "elated" to have been elected, and to have entered the history books because the first female MS of colour.

"Some time ago we were all rejoicing not only like a nation however the world when Kamala Harris made her distance to the White House because the Vice President, but at the same time I'm amazed it took until 2021 for your to happen, but now I'm so pleased and I'm honoured that everyone in East Wales being the first region in Wales to ever get this to move.

"It truly shows progression, it shows a change in people's way of thinking, it shows an assistance for individuals of colour who wish to make a name and obtain into politics and become there to represent them.

"And it's incredible. In a day and age where everyone is so woke, that there's a wish for everyone to become more of the times, it's certainly reflecting and I aspire to see much more of it in the up and coming years.

"I don't discover the pressure I'm absolutely fine with that. My job is ultimately to serve everyone but if I inspire more and more people of colour to get into politics, that's men, women or children I'm fine with that.

"Diversity is essential at the end of the day. Personally i think like we do need to have more representation, I'd love to see more LGBTQ people to come in too.

"Everyone ought to be in there, the Senedd is really a place for everyone of Wales and each single person should be represented.

"I know individuals will say there's pressure, but no I don't feel it by any means. I'm proud and pleased to function as the ones to be able to fly the flag high for this."

As she heard her name read out in the rely on Saturday, she said she had only one wish – "that dad have been there".

"He loved elections," she said. "I understand if there was one person there, holding me and helping me, it might have been my father. "

Miss Asghar said there is a "void" in the pit of her stomach that he wasn't able to see her elected, but said she felt pride in the support using their company candidates, campaigners and party members at getting her and Laura Anne Jones elected in the regional list.

She said the one thing she's most looking forward to, having already taken her oath, would be to "hit the floor running".

"I don't wish to spend whenever faffing around, Among the finest to get at make a start," she said.

"I want to make a recovery plan, all of the visits to East Wales, I wish to help all of the residents around my region and hopefully across Wales."

Miss Asghar said she is keen to operate cross-party, especially in terms of coronavirus recovery.

"We also need to look forward, and this situation is unprecedented.

"So if it requires us working together to beat the effects from the pandemic because let's be truthful so many businesses have gone bust, we have people who are going to be out of employment and who are likely to be from their job.

"We've got a lot of issues that are going to be arising, after COVID you will see a domino effect of this and that we do need to interact to locate a formidable plan that works for everyone."