Shan Alexander

Counillor in Stockport

I was not the first person to be a Mayor in my family. My late father Victor was the first Tamil Mayor of Kandy, Sri Lanka in the late 1940s. Maybe that was why I never saw any obstacle to becoming the first Asian mayor of Stockport back in 2005.

My father was my political inspiration and I was very proud to be following in his footsteps. I joined the Liberal Democrats because the ethos of the party fits my own; it is all there in the preamble to the constitution. I am strong advocate of devolution, treating people equally and civil liberties, so the Liberal Democrats is the natural place for me.

I have lived in lots of places across the world. I was born in Sri-Lanka and lived with my family in Nigeria before moving to Cardiff in 1966, moving to Stockport in 1991. I have worked in many public sector organisations and I was the first Asian manager in the Welsh Office. I was also the country’s first Asian woman JP, a role I still enjoy today.

It was a former Mayor of Stockport, David Brailsford, who pestered the life out of me to stand for the Marple South ward from which he was standing down. I said no for a whole year. As one of just a few black faces in Marple I did not think I could win. In the end I told them that if I lost it would be their fault; I won and I have not looked back since!

I have held many roles in the council, being Mayor was very special, but I have also vice-chaired social services, and was executive member for education and for leisure. Our authority is the only one in the region with over 100 primary schools and there is far more money in the primary sector as a result of my efforts.

During my life here in Britain, I have never seen the colour of a person’s skin, despite what people have said to me, as it being an obstacle. I think I have shown that anyone can break through the glass ceiling.