Rosena Chantelle Allin-Khan (born 1977) is a British doctor and politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tooting since the 2016 by-election, and Shadow Minister for Mental Health since 2020. She stood as a candidate for the 2020 Labour Party deputy leadership election, ultimately placing second to Angela Rayner. She was previously Shadow Minister for Sport between October 2016 and January 2020.
Early life and education
Rosena Chantelle Allin-Khan was born in Tooting. Her Polish mother had been a singer in the Polish girl group Filipinki, who met her father, originally from Pakistan, while the band was on tour in London. The couple separated after having two children, and Allin-Khan's mother worked three jobs to support her and her brother.
She was educated at Trinity St Mary School. She studied medical biochemistry at Brunel University, funding her education through a series of part-time jobs. She went on to study medicine at Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge, funded by scholarships.
Medical career
After qualifying as a doctor, Allin-Khan worked at the Royal London and Homerton Hospitals. She went on to complete a Master's degree in public health. Following this, she spent many years working as a humanitarian aid doctor.
Prior to her election to the House of Commons, she worked as a junior doctor in the accident and emergency department at St George's Hospital in Tooting. Allin-Khan continues to work occasional shifts at St George's Hospital alongside her political career.
Political career
Allin-Khan speaking in 2016
Allin-Khan was a councillor on Wandsworth Council for Bedford ward in Balham, and previously served as deputy leader of the council's Labour group.
Allin-Khan was selected as the Labour Party candidate for the Tooting constituency, after the seat was made vacant in May 2016 when the sitting MP, Sadiq Khan, resigned when he won that year's London mayoral election. Allin-Khan won the seat after a campaign which emphasised her working-class roots and Polish-Pakistani heritage. When the election results were announced, Allin-Khan read a tribute to Jo Cox, the Labour MP for Batley and Spen who had been murdered the day of the by-election.
In October 2016, Allin-Khan was appointed Shadow Minister for Sport. Allin-Khan retained her seat in the 2017 general election and the 2019 general election.
Allin-Khan stood as a candidate in the 2020 Labour Party deputy leadership election. She ultimately received 77,351 (16.8%) of first preference votes, and 113,858 (26.1%) in the final round, unexpectedly placing second to Angela Rayner. She was appointed as Shadow Minister for Mental Health in Keir Starmer's first shadow cabinet, shadowing Nadine Dorries.
Personal life
Allin-Khan lives in Tooting with her Welsh husband. She is a Muslim. The couple have two daughters. She is an amateur boxer, training at Balham Boxing Club, where she is the team doctor.