Neil Shastri-Hurst

Neil Shastri-Hurst was born and brought up in Birmingham, attending King Edward's School, Birmingham.^[3] His father was a general practitioner in Birmingham for three decades and his mother a nurse.^[1]

He trained in medicine at the University of Nottingham, during which time he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was granted a short service commission as a second lieutenant on probation on 1 August 2006^[4] and promoted to lieutenant on probation on 1 August 2007.^[5] He was confirmed in his commission and promoted to captain on 6 August 2008.^[6] He was transferred from the active list to the Regular Army reserve of officers on 29 July 2011^[7] and then from the reserve to the Territorial Army on 11 August that year.^[8] He was returned to the Regular Army reserve on 13 September 2013.^[9] His time in the British Army saw him serve both in the UK and overseas.^[1]

His most recent medical appointment was as an Honorary Consultant Trauma Co-ordinator for the Major Trauma Service at University Hospitals Birmingham. In addition to his clinical work, Neil was appointed a Medical Member of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal in 2016.^{[citation needed]}

Shastri-Hurst retrained as a barrister specialising in healthcare related law.^[1]

Since 2019, Shastri-Hurst has been a member of No5 Chambers, specialising in healthcare, coronial, and personal injury law.^[10]

He was the Conservative candidate in the 2021 North Shropshire by-election.

At the 2024 general election, Shastri-Hurst was elected to Parliament as MP for Solihull West and Shirley with 34.7% of the vote and a majority of 4,620.^[11] Shastri-Hurst won selection for the newly created seat over Conservative MP Nicola Richards.^[12]

Shastri-Hurst supported Kim Leadbeater's bill introducing assisted suicide into law and served on the committee examining the legislation.^[13]

He is also listed as one of the founders of All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence Technology on their website.^[14] This group proved controversial in relation to it receiving money from Isareli-government linked RUK Advanced Systems Ltd, with

'Tommy Sheppard, a former SNP politician who sat on the Standards Committee [stating]: “This seems a crystal clear breach of the rules. He told Declassified: “The APPG should immediately cease taking funds from a company controlled by a foreign government and repay any monies it has received in the past two years. If it does not the group should be suspended and actions considered against office bearers.”'

^[15]

Shastri-Hurst opposes banning of trail hunting.^[16] He is an advocate for integration of immigrants.^[17] He supports reform of the World Health Organization.^[18]