Navin Shah

Navin Fakirchand Shah CBE (born September 1946^[2]) is a former British Labour Party politician who served as chair of the London Assembly between May 2020 and May 2021, and a Member of the London Assembly for Brent and Harrow from 2008 to 2021.^[3]

Navin Shah CBE
Shah in 2019
Chair of the London Assembly
In office May 2020 – May 2021
Preceded by	Jennette Arnold
Succeeded by	Andrew Boff
Member of the London Assembly Brent and Harrow
In office 1 May 2008 – 7 May 2021
Preceded by	Bob Blackman
Succeeded by	Krupesh Hirani
Personal details
Born	September 1946 (age 78) Ahmedabad, Gujarat, British India[1]
Nationality	British
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Rekha
Children	2
Alma mater	University College London
Occupation	Architect

Background

Shah moved to the United Kingdom in 1973 to study at University College London. He joined the Labour Party in 1977 and was elected to Harrow London Borough Council as a councillor for Kenton East Ward in 1994.^[4] Shah was Leader of Harrow Council from 2004 to 2006, and remained the Harrow Labour Group Leader until June 2008.^{[citation needed]}

He was elected as a member of the London Assembly at the 2008 assembly elections,^[5] taking the constituency seat of Brent and Harrow, beating Conservative incumbent Bob Blackman. He was re-elected in 2012^[6] and 2016.^[7] He later challenged Blackman for his Harrow East parliamentary seat at the 2017 general election, and was defeated by just 1,757 votes.^[8]

With the deferral of 2020 London Assembly election he was elected chair of London Assembly on 15 May 2020 succeeding Jennette Arnold.^[9]

Shah was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2022 Birthday Honours for political and public service.^[10]