Ramsgate councillors elect Raushan Ara as the new town mayor

Raushan is the new Ramsgate mayor

Ramsgate councillors have elected businesswoman and mum-of-two Raushan Ara as the town’s new mayor.

Raushan Ara, who  owns the Ramsgate Tandoori, is a Labour councillor who devotes much of her time trying to improve the situation for homeless people in the town.

She said: “I plan to continue my work as a community activist, organising like minded people to work together for the benefit of all.

“I look forward to working with others for the benefit of all members of our diverse community.

“I am delighted to become the town’s mayor — it is a great honour.”

Raushan is also the town’s first Asian mayor, which has been highlighted as a major step forward for ethnic minorities on the isle.

Aram Rawf, Black Asian Minority Ethnic officer for South Thanet Labour Party, who was born in Iraq, said: “This is a great step forward for ethnic minorities in this area. There are racist elements here who would seek to divide our community and we must be united against them.

“Just four years ago Nigel Farage tried to become MP for this area on an anti-foreigner, anti-immigrant platform. Now we have an Asian mayor. That’s what I call progress.”

Raushan takes over the role from four-times mayor Trevor Shonk. Jane Hetherington has been elected as the new deputy mayor.

11 Comments

  1. Some old, some new Ramsgate Town Councillors. I can guarantee its the most ethnically, socially and politically diverse that it has ever been. Congratulations to Raushan and Jane our new Mayor and Deputy Mayor, and to Peter and Anne-Marie as Chair and Vice Chair

  2. Trevor Shonk was Mayor 4 times, 4 years on the trot. He did a splendid job for Ramsgate. One wonders if the new Mayor will be ‘out and about’ like her predecessor !

  3. Raushan has done wonderful work in cleaning up central Ramsgate, she works for the homeless and when accosted by an abusive drunk shouting racist remarks at her thought not of herself but of other, more vulnerable, people who could suffer as she has done. She has nothing to prove as she has been doing a great job for a long time.

    • Yes hopefully people will become less
      Racist. We all are human beings at the end of the day. Hopefully any homeless in the area will get as much help to get housed if they truly wish it. Who really wants to be in that situation.

  4. All the best to Raushan at her new job, I’m sure she’ll be a brilliant mayor for a lovely town on it’s way up.

  5. Hope she does a bit job than Shonk. All he done was take photos all the time but when you wanted something sorted out he is no where to be seen or never bothered replying to emails …. good riddance Mr Shonk….

  6. Raushan Ara is certainly worthy of being elected mayor. She has done a lot for Ramsgate even before being elected as a councillor. I am sure she will do a great job. Shame Aram Rawf chose the occasion to make a political statement about racism. He might well consider the British do not own racism, it can be found in all societies. In Iraq there is conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims. He might also remember it was Labour under Tony Blair who bombed Iraq to remove Hussain. He should also dwell on the words of Trevor Phillips who was head of the equality commission under the Labour government who has said on numerous occasions that Nigel Farage is not a racist. Read also the Casey Report. I wish him well in his adopted county.

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