Alok Sharma

Early life and career

Sharma grew up in Earley and Whitley Wood and went to Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning and Salford University where he received a BSc in Applied Physics with electronics in 1988.

Sharma subsequently qualified as a chartered accountant, training with Deloitte Haskins & Sells in Manchester before moving into corporate finance advisory with Nikko Securities and then Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, where he held senior roles based out of London, Stockholm and Frankfurt. Alok advised corporates and private equity firms on cross border mergers and acquisitions, listings and restructurings.

Sharma is currently a governor of a local primary school in Reading. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society for the advancement of the Arts, Manufacturing and Commerce. Previously he served as a chairman of the political think tank Bow Group's economic affairs committee. In 2013, he was appointed as the Conservative vice-chairman for BME Communities.

In 2017, he was appointed housing minister taking over from Gavin Barwell who lost his seat in the June 2017 election.

Electoral history

Sharma was elected as MP for Reading West in 2010, winning a majority of 6,004. He decreased his majority to 2,876 at the 2017 election.

Political appointments

In Parliament, Sharma has served as a member of the Science and Technology Select Committee, between July 2010 and February 2011 and is a current member of the Treasury Select Committee. During Sharma’s time on the Treasury Select Committee, the committee has investigated how financial services customers are treated and Sharma has been critical of the banks for mis-selling products to customers.

Sharma was appointed in September 2011 as a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Mark Hoban MP, during Hoban's time as Financial Secretary to the Treasury. During his time as a PPS, Sharma sat on a number of public bill committees including two finance bills, the 2013 Banking Reform Bill and the 2011 Pensions Bill.

Sharma is currently Conservative vice-chairman for BME communities and Co-Chairman of Conservative Friends of India.

Free Schools

Sharma supported the opening of one of the first new Free Schools in the country in his Reading West constituency. All Saints Junior School opened in September 2011 and received an “Outstanding” rating in its first Ofsted report.

Sharma has also been appointed a Patron of the Wren School, a new secondary Free School opening in west Reading in September 2015. Sharma supported the West Reading Education Network in getting the new school approved and is helping the school to find an appropriate permanent site.

Heathrow Airport

Sharma has been a vocal supporter of Heathrow Airport in recent times and has spoken in support of increasing the number of airport runways in the South East of England, claiming that “a lack of hub capacity is costing the UK jobs and investment.” This is despite opposition in his own constituency; in 2009 he said: “A third runway at Heathrow would inflict huge damage to the environment and to the quality of life of millions of people. It is time for the Government to abandon its plans for a third runway and, if a Conservative Government is elected, we will certainly stop this environmental disaster.”

Road Safety

Following the death of two cyclists in Purley, Sharma has campaigned for longer prison sentences for those convicted of death by dangerous driving. Sharma initiated a Parliamentary debate on the issue and backed a petition, started by the families of victims, which gained more than 55,000 signatures.

Rail policy

Sharma has campaigned to reduce the number of First Class carriages on trains operating on the Great Western route between Reading and Paddington. In January 2015, he held a meeting with Rail Minister Claire Perry and First Great Western managing director Mark Hopwood to discuss proposals to increase Standard Class capacity to reduce overcrowding.

Flooding

In February 2014 Sharma criticised Labour leader Ed Miliband during the latter's visit to Purley which had been badly affected by flooding. Sharma claimed that the visit was merely a photo opportunity for Miliband. Miliband responded by saying that he had come 'for the people of your constituency'.

East West Leaders’ Forum

Sharma set up the East West Leaders’ Forum, a discussion forum between business leaders, to promote dialogue between Europe, India and China. Theresa May, then Home Secretary, gave the keynote speech at the inaugural event which was held in London in September 2014.

Brexit

Sharma was opposed to Brexit prior to the 2016 referendum.

Grenfell fire

As the Minister of State for Housing, Sharma is the minister responsible for the Government's response to the fire. He attracted media attention when he was visibly moved while making a statement to the House of Commons on 5 July 2017.

Personal life

Sharma is married and lives in Caversham with his wife and two daughters.