Sajjad Karim
A British-Asian Conservative who navigated the turbulent politics of Brexit as a pragmatic voice for trade and engagement.
Born 1970 (age 56)·British politician·Birthday: July 11·Generation X
Biography
Sajjad Karim's political career unfolded on the European stage during one of the UK's most divisive periods. Born in Blackburn to Pakistani parents, he trained as a solicitor, specializing in European and commercial law—expertise that would define his work. Elected as a Conservative MEP for North West England in 2004, he became a fixture in Brussels and Strasbourg, known for his sharp legal mind and advocacy for stronger UK-EU trade ties. As Brexit loomed, Karim, a Remainer, chaired the influential European Parliament's delegation to India and served as Vice-Chair of the International Trade Committee, arguing for a soft exit that protected economic links. His tenure ended with the UK's departure in 2019. Beyond politics, he has been involved in interfaith dialogue and served as a director of the European Movement UK, continuing to advocate for close cross-Channel relations even after his parliamentary role concluded.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Sajjad was born in 1970, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sajjad Was Born
The biggest hits of 1970
#1 Movie
Love Story
Best Picture
Patton
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Sajjad's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1970Born
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1975Started school
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1983Became a teenager
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Could drive
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Could vote
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Turned 21
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2000Turned 30
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 40
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 50
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 56 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as a Member of the European Parliament for North West England for 15 years, from 2004 to 2019.
- Chaired the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with India, strengthening diplomatic and trade links.
- Acted as Vice-Chair of the International Trade Committee (INTA) in the European Parliament.
- Was a founding member and director of the European Movement UK, campaigning for continued close UK-EU relations.
Did You Know?
He was the first British Muslim to be elected as a Conservative Member of the European Parliament.
Karim is a qualified solicitor and previously ran his own legal practice focused on European law.
He served as a Deputy President of the European Parliament's delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
In 2008, he survived the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, as he was staying at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.
“My work is about building bridges, not walls, between communities.”
