Navigating Westminster - Sonia Kumar MP on Overcoming Setbacks and Making History as Dudley's First Female MP

Navigating Westminster - Sonia Kumar MP on Overcoming Setbacks and Making History as Dudley's First Female MP

In this episode, Sabrina speaks with Sonia Kumar MP, the first female MP for Dudley elected in July 2024 and a dedicated NHS physiotherapist. Sonia shares her inspiring journey from healthcare to politics, detailing how she navigated Westminster as a newly elected MP without prior political connections—and the valuable lessons she has learnt along the way. She also highlights the importance of mentorship, female networks and her passion for women’s health, emphasising the urgent need for better access to physiotherapy for women. In this candid conversation, Sonia speaks about why failure should never define your path and the necessity of creating safe spaces for women in politics.

Breaking Barriers - Preet Kaur Gill MP on Faith and Leadership

In this episode, Sabrina speaks with Preet Kaur Gill MP, the first British Sikh woman elected to the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston. We discuss her journey from social work to being appointed to Shadow Cabinet positions, her role as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Business Secretary, and how her faith influences her leadership and decision-making. Preet also shares her experiences of facing intimidation and harassment during the 2024 election campaign, and her work to strengthen UK-Commonwealth relations through the Labour Friends of the Commonwealth..

Defending Consent – Baroness Owen on Tackling Deepfake Abuse

In this episode, Sabrina speaks with Baroness Charlotte Owen, who made history as one of the youngest peers appointed to the House of Lords in 2023. We discuss her work on the Non-Consensual Sexually Explicit Images and Videos (Offences) Bill, her cross-party efforts to push the Government into U-turning on deepfake legislation, and her fight for a consent-based approach to protecting survivors of image-based abuse. Baroness Owen also shares insights into her journey into politics, her experience in the House of Lords, and her advice for young women who want to influence policy. We highlight the vital role of organisations and campaigners working on this issue—including Refuge [https://refuge.org.uk], Not Your Porn [ https://notyourporn.com], the End Violence Against Women Coalition, the Revenge Porn Helpline [https://revengepornhelpline.org.uk], Jodie Campaigns [Jodie Campaigns] and Professor Claire McGlynn [https://www.claremcglynn.com]—and explore the changes needed to safeguard women from both digital and real-world harm.