Above and bottom of page: Kulveer Singh Ranger. Next below: With Margaret Thatcher.
People
No Ordinary Politician
by SAMANTHA WATSON
England's Conservative Party has appointed Kulveer Singh Ranger as its Vice-Chairman.
The 32-year-old management consultant is extensively involved with the party. He has also written several papers for political think tanks.
As Vice-Chair, he will also take over responsibility for the Cities portfolio.
Publicising Kulveer's new position, Conservative Party Chair Caroline Spelman said: "I am delighted to announce Kulveer's appointment to this important role. The cities of Britain form the hubs of our commercial and social life, they are also home to many of the most deprived members of our society".
She added: "The Conservative Party has been building support in our urban and suburban areas, but there is still a lot for us to do. Kulveer will do a great job continuing the hard work we have already accomplished, to engage all communities in the political system".
Kulveer said: "It is a great privilege to be asked to work in this important area for the Party. There have been a lot of positive things done in this field and it is critical for us to continue to build on them. I am determined to work with councillors, associations and other local groups by listening and helping, where possible, with the key challenges that our cities face".
Within the party, Kulveer has dealt with major organisations relating to transport and regeneration, specifically in urban environments.
At the last General Election, he stood as the parliamentary candidate for Makerfield, against Labour incumbent Ian McCartney. He failed to win, and is currently vying for a parliament seat to represent the party.
PROFILE
Kulveer Singh Ranger is no ordinary politician. He says that he did not set out to be an MP; it is something that actually surfaced as a result of his work.
He is currently a senior management consultant for the Nichols Group, where he advises and manages projects for companies. He was part of the core team responsible for the management and implementation of the transport Oyster Card.
For the past seven years, he says he found his various positions in management consultancy similar to politics, in the way that he had to try to find solutions to problems and listen to people's needs.
Explaining why he joined the Conservative Party, he notes: "I haven't always been Conservative, but I always felt I didn't believe in a socialist ideology. I feel that the Conservatives believe in freedom of speech, advancing opportunity and maximizing people's potential".
Before his current profession, Kulveer worked in a variety of roles from IT strategy, property development and fashion, to being a resident DJ. After being spurred on by a friend, he decided that the experience gained from that work would be good grounding for being a management consultant.
His political interest particularly rests in climate, transportation and regeneration; and his many responsibilities demonstrate this.
As a Conservative member, Kulveer has been involved in the Transport Policy Group and acted as adviser to Alan Duncan, Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and to Dominic Greve, who heads Diversity. He was a member of the Quality of Life Policy Review Group and was appointed a Champion of the Conservative Women's Organisation, and an adviser on the Ethnic Diversity Council.
He has a political column in the Asian Voice newspaper and also appears on Sky News and the BBC as a political commentator.
He says: "I'm Sikh, I wear a turban and it could be to my disadvantage or advantage. Being an Asian and breaking barriers where people haven't seen Asians before, like on Sky News: well, that is a success".
The son of Sikh-Brit parents, he was born and grew up in Middlesex. He says his father and mother worked hard and struggled throughout his formative years.
Recalling his youth in Middlesex, he adds: "I was really lucky I had a very balanced childhood. I went to a school in Hammersmith, where it was mixed, with all races and religions. I was blind to the fact that my friend was either Jewish or Muslim, we just grew up together".
Kulveer originally decided to be an architect at an early age. In 1996, he attained a degree in Architecture from the Bartlett School of Architecture (University College of London). But, it was during that time that his career direction changed.
"I studied with some very talented people, but I suddenly realized I wanted to do something different. I didn't have the same passion for architecture as some people on the course".
Admiring great leaders of the time like Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela and Gandhi, he argues that there are not enough Black, Sikh and Asian youngsters involved in politics.
Challenging this, Kulveer regularly visits schools, engaging young people on the political system. This type of involvement, he believes, continues throughout the Conservative Party.
He says that David Cameron, Leader of the Conservatives, is bringing about a party which tackles issues for the future, adding that the party is showing "vibrancy and youth", which he believes is for the benefit of the country.
"Whatever happens in the next few years, I will always be part of the party, whether MP or not. When you find something you have a passion for, you have to contribute to society", he explains.
"I've been lucky in my life, so why not give something back to people who are not so fortunate".
[Courtesy: AIM and OBV]
Conversation about this article
1: D. J. Singh (U.S.A.), August 11, 2007, 7:32 PM.
Congratulations to Kulveer Singh on his appointment. The Sikh community will proudly follow his career. May he spread the message of Sikhi based on his hard work, honesty and compassion. May he strive for "Sarbat da bhalla".
2: Pritam Singh Grewal (Canada), August 12, 2007, 4:08 AM.
A good model for Sikh youth diaspora. Hope the Conservative party, Sikhs and all Britons will benefit from his appointment.
3: Harpreet Singh (Windsor, England), August 12, 2007, 2:10 PM.
Kulveer represents the best of Sikhs in the UK. His public spirit and desire to work for the betterment of all communities in the UK suggests ways that we as Sikhs can make our mark in the diaspora: working for all British people, regardless of their ethnic or religious background, with no sectarian bias or narrow communalist agenda.