Councillor Soryia Siddique: 'I was told I wouldn't get elected wearing a headscarf'

The Labour councillor represents Glasgow’s Southside Central ward, which covers the Gorbals and Govanhill

Describe the area you represent in one sentence Diverse, vibrant and experiencing inequality.

How long have you lived there? I’m born and bred in Glasgow – stayed here, worked here, did my PhD here at the University of Strathclyde and worked in just about every college in the city. I now work part-time at the University of Glasgow.

Tell us something we won’t know about your local area Sadly Govanhill can get a lot of really negative press and there’s no doubt there are challenges within the area but it’s a very strong, proud community and when I was growing up in a tenement every one was a wee community where you looked out for your neighbours. That spirit is so strong, and it reminds me of that time. 

Who is the best-known person from your area? Lorraine Kelly, she’s from the Gorbals. And there’s the boxer Benny Lynch as well.

What challenges are unique to your particular part of the country? There’s lots of data that shows that Govanhill communities can experience stark inequalities, children living in poverty, overcrowded housing and infrastructure. In 2012 my inbox was really busy with constituents raising issues like not having a factor, not knowing who to contact with issues in the close or absent landlords, and sometimes rogue landlords. What we were dealing with was the symptoms of the problem and after a lot of campaigning the South-West Govanhill Acquisition Programme came about – a unique partnership between the city council and the Scottish Government. It’s brought hundreds of flats up to tolerable standards and insisted there are factors in place. That’s a significant change.

What made you stand for election? I had never thought of standing – I couldn’t see someone who looks like me in parliament or council and was happy being an active campaigner. I was asked if I’d ever thought about standing and put my name forward.

There was quite a bit of negativity at that point and I was told that, wearing a headscarf, I wouldn’t get elected. That made me more determined. I’m a fighter and I thought if I could do it, it would show other women they could do it too. This is my third time as a councillor in what is probably one of the most politicised areas in Scotland, especially when [local MSP] Nicola Sturgeon was first minister.

What’s the one thing Holyrood politicians could do that would be of greatest benefit to the area you represent? Roll up your sleeves. Come and walk the streets and speak to communities, get to know what the challenges are and what people are really worried about. Glasgow needs urgent attention. Our city is crumbling, our heritage is crumbling, environmental issues are rising. We need people to deliver solutions for our communities.

The Govanhill International Festival and Carnival Parade celebrates the area's diversity | Alamy

What’s the best bit about living where you do? There’s so much. We are going through significant regeneration. New social housing has been done quite tastefully – it’s a great example of community-led housing regeneration. When I was starting out in 2012 I spent a lot of my time in McDonald’s off Victoria Road because I was really struggling for a coffee, but now Govanhill is my go-to place if I’m out with friends. There are so many places to get a coffee and a pastry and the standard is really high. 

Is there a particular word you love using that only people in your part of the country would recognise? Because of the diverse communities in the ward – from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Slovakia, Romania – you hear quite a lot of things you might not hear elsewhere. It varies depending on what part of the ward you’re in.

If you could live anywhere else, where would it be? No matter where I go or where life takes me, Glasgow is always going to be my home, but if I had to choose it would probably be Manchester or London. Manchester is a lot like Glasgow in some ways and there are lots of opportunities in London.