'My husband had a stroke on my first day in Parliament'

Ordeal prompts MP Uma's funds call

- By Chris Riches

AN MP learned that her husband was in intensive care with a stroke... while she sat in Parliament for the first time.

Uma Kumaran had asked her parents to check on Jacob Tilley as he did not look well while she headed off to the Commons as the new Labour MP for Stratford and Bow last July 9.

But as the House reelected the Speaker she saw messages that teetotaller Jacob, 39, had been taken to hospital so she raced off.

As Jacob recovers from an op to repair the hole in his heart that caused the stroke, Uma, 38, shared their story with the Express to warn that strokes can strike at any age.