and 1966 (Megan).

Gwilym was home minister in successive Conservative governments headed by Sir Winston Churchill and Sir Anthony Eden from 1954 to 1957. Megan, to the left of her brother, began with the Liberal party and then switched to Labour.

Valerie, like her brother Keith, was born in Aden, Yemen from parents who originated from Goa. Both siblings retain strong links with India, she said.

'I have family members in Mumbai and Goa, and visit India often,' she told IANS.

'I will represent everybody in my constituency - the indigenous majority as well as the 26 percent ethnic minorities,' said Valerie Vaz, who has worked as a deputy district judge, deputy mayor and a lawyer for the central and local governments.

Valerie Vaz said she thought the Indian parliament was 'quite a bit ahead' in terms of moves by political parties to enlist more women MPs in winnable seats.

'In fact, if elected, I'd quite like to establish contacts with Indian women MPs and exchange ideas and experiences,' she added.

Keith Vaz has been the MP for Leicester East constituency in southeast England since 1987.