'Working-class-roots mum.' Sayeeda Warsi
Photo: AFP
UK: Muslim peer 'humbled' to be in Cabinet
Minister without portfolio Sayeeda Warsi says serving in Cameron's new coalition government 'a privilege'
Britain's first female Muslim Cabinet minister said on Thursday it was "humbling" to join the government, after taking part in new Prime Minister David Cameron's first full ministerial meeting.
Sayeeda Warsi is the Conservative Party's chairwoman and minister without portfolio in Cameron's new coalition government, the first power-sharing administration since World War II.
New British cabinet (Photo: Reuters)
"For anybody to serve in government is a privilege," said the 39-year-old of Pakistani origin, after Cameron held his first Cabinet meeting in 10 Downing Street, two days after being appointed premier by Queen Elizabeth II.
"But to be born the daughter of an immigrant mill-worker in a mill town in Yorkshire, to have the privilege of serving in Cabinet at such an important time in Britain's history I think is terribly humbling," she told the BBC.
Warsi -- who describes herself as a "northern, working-class-roots mum" -- says she joined the Conservative Party after being inspired by her father, who went from working in a mill to run a highly successful bed-making business.
The Tories came top in elections last week but failed to win an absolute majority. Cameron took office after five days of tense negotiations with the Liberal Democrats, the third-placed party which emerged as kingmaker.
