International Women’s Day is always a good opportunity to pause, reflect, and celebrate the women who are pushing boundaries, reshaping leadership, and opening doors for the next generation. This international women’s day we are celebrating Councillor Samia Haq, Leader of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council.
Oadby and Wigston Borough Council has been under continuous Liberal Democrat control since 1991, more than three decades of trust from the local community. That kind of consistency doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built on relationships, listening, and staying true to local values.
Samia’s journey didn’t happen overnight. She was first elected in a 2008 by-election, stepping forward to serve her community and make a difference. From day one, she showed a real determination to listen to residents and stand up for their concerns. Over the years, she’s taken on different responsibilities, built experience, and earned the respect of colleagues across the council chamber, as well as the people she represents.
And that journey speaks directly to one of the core messages of International Women’s Day: representation truly matters.
Local government isn’t abstract or distant, it’s about everyday life. It’s about housing, planning decisions, clean streets, green spaces, and community wellbeing. These are the issues that shape people’s daily experiences. Yet across the country, council chambers still often don’t reflect the full diversity of the communities they serve. Women, particularly women from minority backgrounds, remain underrepresented in leadership roles.
Samia has spoken openly about what it means to walk into rooms that are often predominantly male, predominantly white, and often older. Rather than seeing that as a barrier, she sees it as motivation. For her, leadership isn’t about fitting a mould, it’s about bringing your whole self and your lived experience to the table, while respecting and learning from others. No one person can represent everyone and that’s exactly why diversity strengthens decision-making.
As a proud liberal, Samia is driven by fairness, equality and opportunity. She believes deeply in protecting individual rights and making sure every resident, whatever their background, feels heard and represented. But she’s also clear about something important: if decisions are made around the table, then everyone needs a seat at that table. Change doesn’t just happen; it requires participation.
Her leadership sends a powerful message to women and girls across the borough: you belong here. You belong in politics. You belong in leadership. Your voice matters.
International Women’s Day isn’t just about celebrating achievements, it’s about accelerating progress. Samia has consistently encouraged more women and people from minority communities to step into public life. Visibility plays a huge role in that. When you see someone who looks like you leading, it changes what feels possible.
At the same time, Samia’s leadership isn’t defined solely by identity , it’s defined by service. Colleagues describe her as determined, thoughtful and deeply community focused. Residents know her as someone who listens carefully and works hard to get things done. While her position is meaningful, her day-to-day focus is simple: delivering for the people of Oadby and Wigston.
The borough’s long-standing Liberal Democrat leadership shows what sustained community engagement and principled local governance can achieve.
So this International Women’s Day, we celebrate Councillor Samia Haq and all other women in our party that are trailblazers, those who are leading, those who are supporting and every single woman who make a difference in our lives.
So here’s to strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them (may we get elected to local Government ). Happy international women’s day from all of us at ALDC.