PR-U.K.- Lord Dolar Popat
Lord Dolar Popat ofHarrow,UK
Dolar Amarshi Popat, Baron Popat, also known as Lord Popat (born Uganda, 14 June 1953) is a British Asian businessman and politician. He is a life peer and is the first Gujarati to represent the Conservative party in the House of Lords.
He came to Britainin 1971 during the expulsion of Asians from Uganda. His family was forced to flee Idi Amin’s regime and he arrived from Uganda as a 17 year-old in 1971, with just £10 in his pocket.
He is the founder and chairman of hospitality and health care firm TLC Group Limited and holds directorships of other companies in these sectors. His wealth grew after he founded the TLC Group, which owns a string of hotels and care homes acrossBritain. The 55-year-old father-of-three has built a fortune worth an estimated £42million and is the 1,296th richest person inBritain.
Lord Dolar Popat has been a member of the Conservative Party for over 30 years, and held office in several associations within the Party such as Secretary, Anglo Asian Conservative Association, One Nation Forum, and as Advisor to the British Asian Conservative Link. He is also a member of the Diversity and Leadership in Britainin the 21st Century, a cross party 
Council. He is President of Harrow East Conservative Association and is a member of or adviser to various Asian groups within the Conservative party. Mr Popat is a founding director of St Luke’s Hospice in Kenton Grange, Kenton, and an advisor to the Nightingale House Trust, and started The Dolar Popat Foundation to make contributions to medical and educational institutions. He has acted as a member of the Conservative Ethnic Diversity Council.
He was raised to the peerage as “Baron Popat, of Harrow in the London Borough of Harrow“, a Life Peer in David Cameron’s for the Conservative Party.
Mr Dolar Popat, a former refugee and self-made multi-millionaire and has worked as a waiter at a Wimpy restaurant during the day to fund his business studies classes at night. Mr Popat He became an accountant and went on to form a company that advised small companies on how to raise capital. He became an Affiliate Member of theInstituteofChartered Management Accountants. He has helped bankroll the work of Tory frontbenchers who are now ministers, including International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell, Cabinet Minister Baroness Warsi, and Nick Herbert, the police minister.
Mr Popat, who credited former Tory prime minister Sir Edward Heath with allowing refugees from Uganda to settle in Britain, has made statements about immigration that could alarm the Tory high command, after the party studiously avoided making it an election issue.
Mr Popat said: “I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to serve as part of Her Majesty’s Government under the leadership of David Cameron.
“I came toEngland when I was 18 years old and was touched by the welcome and compassion shown by the then Conservative Government to the Ugandan Asians after their expulsion by Idi Amin.
“In the House of Lords, I look forward to championing the small business community and helping the Government foster greater trade and cultural links withIndiaandAfrica.
“I owe so much to this country and I will do my utmost to serve my community, my party and my country to the best of my ability.”
