(Image source from: Indian-origin Priti Patel)

Prime Minister David Cameron appointed one of Britain's most prominent Indian-origin MPs Priti Patel as the new Employment Minister. Ms Patel was re-elected from Witham in Essex with a big majority in the general election. The 43-year-old replaces Esther McVey, who lost her seat at the polls.

Priti Patel, who was born on 29th March 1972 is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament from the Witham constituency in Essex since 2010. Her parents migrated from Uganda and were of Gujarati origin who came to Britain in the 1960s. Ms. PritiPatel attended Watford Grammar School for Girls in Watford, studied economics at Keele University, completed her postgraduate studies at the University of Essex. She joined the Conservative Party when John Major was Prime Minister.

It was a Ladies' Day at Downing Street as British Prime Minister David Cameron completed his cabinet formation, in which many ladies found the place. Amber Rudd is made Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Anna Soubry and Priti Patel are appointed as small business and employment ministers. Pakistani-origin Sajid Javid is moved from Culture Secretary to Secretary of State for Business and London Mayor Boris Johnson has been made a minister without a portfolio.

By Premji