use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) --> , death_place = , death_cause = , body_discovered = , resting_place = , resting_place_coordinates = , burial_place = , burial_coordinates = , monuments = , nationality = , other_names = , siglum = , citizenship = , education = , alma_mater =

School of Oriental and African Studies The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS University of London; ) is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the federal University of London. Founded in 1916, SOAS is located in the Bloomsbury area ...

University College London University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...

, occupation = , years_active = , era = , employer = , organization =

Transport Salaried Staffs' Association The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) is a trade union for workers in the transport and travel industries in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Its head office is in London, and it has regional offices in Bristol, ...

, agent = , known_for = , notable_works = , style = , height = , television = , title =

General Secretary Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, Power (social and political), power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the org ...

, term = , predecessor = , successor = , party = Labour , otherparty = , movement = , opponents = , boards = , criminal_charges = , criminal_penalty = , criminal_status = , spouse = Thomas Gardiner , partner = , children = 1 , parents = , mother = , father = , relatives = , family = , callsign = , awards = , website = , module = , module2 = , module3 = , module4 = , module5 = , module6 = , signature = , signature_type = , signature_size = , signature_alt = , footnotes = Maryam Eslamdoust () is a British-Iranian politician and trade union official. She was mayor of the

London Borough of Camden The London Borough of Camden () is a London boroughs, borough in Inner London, England. Camden Town Hall, on Euston Road, lies north of Charing Cross. The borough was established on 1 April 1965 from the former Metropolitan boroughs of the Cou ...

from 2019 to 2021, and in 2023 was elected General Secretary of the

. Eslamdoust was the first Iranian-born woman to be elected to public office in Great Britain.

Biography

Eslamdoust was born in

Tehran Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District (Tehran County), Central District. With a population of around 9. ...

, Iran. As a child she moved with her family to the Kilburn area of London. She was educated at the

and

. Eslamdoust has worked in the legal and charity sectors, and as a researcher for the United Kingdom Labour Party. From 2010 Eslamdoust served as an elected Labour Party councillor on the

Camden London Borough Council Camden London Borough Council, also known as Camden Council, legally The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Camden, is the local authority for the London Borough of Camden in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one o ...

for the ward of Kilburn. She focused her duties on overseeing stronger regulation on noise pollution, gambling premises, and strip clubs. The latter issue resulted in a lengthy court battle between the council and

Spearmint Rhino Spearmint Rhino is a chain of strip clubs that operates venues throughout the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. The first Spearmint Rhino was located in Upland, California. Operations John Gray is the founder & CEO of Spearmint Rh ...

, due to a casting council vote made in her favour by Eslamdoust's husband, Thomas Gardiner, which was resolved in 2014 when the judge upheld the council decision. Eslamdoust went on to be declared Deputy Mayor of Camden in 2018. In 2019 Eslamdoust was elected as Mayor for the

, and was the first woman born in Iran to serve in public office in Great Britain. She attracted criticism due to the circa £11,000 cost of her inauguration ceremony. Eslamdoust served for 2 years in the role, raising money for domestic abuse charity Solace Women's Aid. In 2023 Eslamdoust succeeded

Manuel Cortes Manuel Cortes (born 2 May 1967) is a British trade unionist who served as the General Secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) between 2011 and 2022. Early life Cortes was born and raised in Gibraltar; while growing up, ...

to become General Secretary of the

(TSSA), a

trade union A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...

focused on transport and travel in the United Kingdom and Ireland, being elected with 47% of the vote. Cortes had previously left the TSSA pending an investigation into harassment. It was reported that Eslamdoust was both the first woman, and the first person of colour, to be leader of the union through its 126-year history. While representing the TSSA she has advocated for the keeping open of ticket offices in rail stations, a goal which is partly personal to achieve continued independent living for her blind and autistic brother. Eslamdoust has been reported as being politically aligned with

Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Bernard Corbyn (; born 26 May 1949) is a British politician who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Islington North (UK Parliament constituency), Islington North since 1983. Now an Independent ...

, to the left wing of the UK Labour Party. In 2023 she was critical of the Labour leader

Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...

, particularly concerning his reluctance to call for a ceasefire on the

Gaza war The Gaza war is an armed conflict in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel fought since 7 October 2023. A part of the unresolved Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Israeli–Palestinian and Gaza–Israel conflict, Gaza–Israel conflicts dating ...

Personal life

Eslamdoust met her husband, Thomas Gardiner, while studying at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. Gardiner similarly served as a Labour councillor for the Kilburn ward from 2010. Eslamdoust's son Xerxes was born in 2019, during her tenure as Mayor of Camden.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eslamdoust, Maryam Living people Alumni of SOAS University of London Alumni of University College London Councillors in the London Borough of Camden General secretaries of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association Iranian emigrants to England Labour Party (UK) councillors Labour Party (UK) mayors Mayors of places in Greater London People from Kilburn, London People from Tehran Trade unionists from London Year of birth missing (living people)