Salma Shah
British political commentator and former special adviser
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ommasalma Shah (born July 1984) is a British political commentator and consultant known professionally as Salma Shah. She worked as special adviser to former Tory Home Secretary Sajid Javid[1][2][3] for five years covering four different departments.
Salma Shah | |
|---|---|
| Occupations | commentator, special adviser |
She has been a director of Kraken Strategy Limited since 2019, and is a Policy Fellow alumnus of Centre for Science and Policy.[2][3] She is also a Trustee of the think tank Policy Exchange.[4][3]
Early life
Shah was born in July 1984 in the United Kingdom to immigrant parents from Pakistan and India.
Career
Shah worked for Alan Duncan who was then a member of the Conservative Party Shadow Cabinet as an adviser[5] and then a press officer for the Conservative Party. From 2014, she was a producer at the BBC helping to produce the Today programme on Radio 4.[6] Shah worked as a special adviser in the Conservative government, specialising in public policy.[7][8]
She worked for Sajid Javid across four Government departments. She started working for him at the Department of Culture Media and Sport[9] The Department for Business Innovation and Skills and The Ministry for Housing and Local Government[10] She held an important role as an adviser to Sajid Javid when he was in office as Home Secretary.[11]
She departed from government in 2019, when Boris Johnson became Prime Minister.[12]
She then worked in the private sector for Portland Communications.[13] In 2022, she joined Mitie as a non-executive director and as a prominent political commentator in the media,[14] she has also been a commentator on police reform and English devolution.[15][16] Shah has been awarded for her role as a company board director winning the Sunday Times Non-Executive Director to Watch award in 2024[17] She is a fellow of the Centre for Science and Policy.[18]
In her post-Government career, Shah was a columnist for the Independent The Independent.[19]
Shah is a regular panellist on shows including Sophy Ridge on Sunday[20] Good Morning Britain,[21] Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and BBC Politics Live.[22] She appeared on Have I Got News for You on 10 October 2025.[23]
Personal life
Her husband Andrew Smith served as lord mayor of Westminster from 2021 to 2022[24]