Bolton South-east MP Yasmin Qureshi receives Honorary Doctorate from University

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East, said it was a “great honour” as she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton. Ms Qureshi was awarded a Doctor of Social Science for her outstanding contribution to politics and the local community.

She said: “The University plays a fundamental role in the lives of people in Bolton. I would like to thank the staff of the University for preparing students for a world after university.”

Ms Qureshi received the Honorary Doctorate from the Chancellor of the University of Bolton, the Earl of St Andrews, in a unique covid-secure ceremony which was filmed for a special movie documenting this year’s innovative ‘Alternative Graduation’.

The University of Bolton is one of the only ones in the UK to have invited graduands from this year and last to be presented with their degrees in person and their gowns, giving them the chance to have official photographs of their special day.

Ms Qureshi has been the MP for Bolton South East since 2010 and serves as Shadow International Development Minister, responsible for overseeing the government’s aid agenda in Asia, the Commonwealth, and on Gender Equality worldwide.

She leads campaigns in Parliament on the damage caused by pregnancy drugs, Primodos, the persecution of the Uyghur community in Xinjiang and the representation of religion in the media.

From 2017- 2020 she served as Shadow Justice Minister. Before becoming an MP, Ms Qureshi was a barrister and worked for the UN Mission in Kosovo.

She said told this year’s graduating students: “I know you will go out into the world and do well. If you want to achieve something, you will achieve it.”