Unmesh Desai
Key information
Start date for this term:
Salary: £64,331
Constituency: Barking & Dagenham, City of London, Newham, Tower Hamlets
Political group: Independent
Biography
- London Assembly Member (GLA), City and East, 2016 - Present
- Councillor, London Borough of Newham, 1998 - 2018
- Political Officer, Newham GMB, 2014 - Present
Responsibilities for 2024-25
Member of the Budget and Performance Committee
Member of the Police and Crime Committee
Member of the Transport Committee
Member of the Confirmation Hearings Committee
Member of the Health Committee
Key issues
Political interests
Before being elected Unmesh worked as a criminal defence lawyer for a human rights firm, a researcher in police and crime issues in local government, and for a pioneering civil rights organisation campaigning for police accountability.
On Newham Council he was the first Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. He was a member of the Council’s Cabinet from its inception in 2002 and was responsible for Community Affairs until 2010. He then took on responsibility for Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour until 2016.
Unmesh is a past Vice Chair of the Local Government Information Unit, an Executive Member of Liberty and was a member of the London Labour Party Regional Board for a number of years.
Other interests
Unmesh is a member of GMB and the Fabian Society.
He is Community Director for Essex Cricket in the community.
He is a former trustee of the West Ham United Foundation, Ambassador for the Newham Cricket Club, Patron of Vallance Community Sports Association, and a Patron of the Policy Forum for London.