Zubir Ahmed (born 1980 or 1981)[1] is a Scottish Labour Party politician and surgeon serving as Member of Parliament (MP) for Glasgow South West since 2024.

Zubir Ahmed
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for Glasgow South West
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded byChris Stephens
Majority3,285 (9.2%)
Personal details
Born1980 or 1981 (age 43–44)
Glasgow, Scotland
Political partyLabour
EducationHutchesons' Grammar School
Alma materUniversity of Glasgow (MB ChB)
University College London (MSc)
King's College London (PhD)
University of Strathclyde (MBA)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • surgeon
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life and medical career

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Ahmed was born to Pakistani parents who emigrated to Scotland in the 1960s, and was the eldest of five children.[2] His father was a taxi driver and he grew up in Govanhill, Glasgow.

Ahmed was awarded a scholarship to attend Hutchesons' Grammar School, where he was a contemporary of Anas Sarwar and Humza Yousaf.[3][2] He received a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Glasgow in 2005, where he studied alongside Sarwar once again.[4]

He was awarded a Master of Science in healthcare from University College London in 2012, a doctorate in transplantation from King's College London in 2019, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Strathclyde in 2020.

Ahmed was a transplant and vascular surgeon in Glasgow and volunteered in Pakistan.[5][2] He has been a fellow of the European Board of Surgery and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.[6] Following his election to Parliament, he continued to practise to maintain his medical license.[7]

Political career

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Ahmed joined the Labour Party as a teenager, and decided to stand for office during the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] He was the Labour candidate for Glasgow Pollok in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, coming second to the Scottish National Party's (SNP) Humza Yousaf.[4]

Ahmed was elected as Member of Parliament for Glasgow South West at the 2024 general election, defeating SNP incumbent Chris Stephens.[9] He was appointed as a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, several weeks after his election.[7]

Personal life

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Ahmed is a Muslim and married to a respiratory doctor, with whom he has two children.[10][11]

References

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  1. ^ Ferguson, John (22 October 2023). "Top Scots surgeon's Labour MP bid after years of Tory NHS damage and SNP failure". Daily Record. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Top Scots surgeon's Labour MP bid after years of Tory NHS damage and SNP shortcomings". Daily Record. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Dr Zubir Ahmed for Glasgow Pollok". Crowdfunder. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Sarwar denies 'stitch-up' as schoolmate becomes Labour candidate". The Herald. 15 February 2023.
  5. ^ Green, Daniel (27 June 2024). "Meet NHS doctor Zubir Ahmed, fighting one of Scotland's tightest marginals". LabourList. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Zubir Ahmed". Policy Mogul. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b Massie, John Boothman, Alex (26 July 2024). "Scottish Labour MPs take first steps on ministerial ladder". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 31 July 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Courea, Eleni (5 June 2024). "Rising stars who could play a big part in a Labour government". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Election 2024 > Glasgow South West results". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Labour accused of anti-left wing 'stitch-up' in candidate selection". The Herald. 13 February 2023.
  11. ^ ""The fightback needs to start now": Scottish Labour's battle in Glasgow". LabourList. 5 May 2021.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Glasgow South West

2024–present
Incumbent
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