With around 14 per cent of MPs coming from ethnic minority backgrounds this time around, the analysis found that the new Parliament will come closer than ever to reflecting the diversity of the British electorate.
“This election will see the biggest increase in ethnic minority representation and the most diverse Parliament yet,” said Sunder Katwala, Director of Future Britain.
“Within 40 years, we will go from zero to one in seven MPs from an ethnic minority background. The UK is closing the gap between the diversity of Parliament and the electorate faster than we think,” he said. .
The last general election in 2019 saw 15 MPs of Indian heritage cross the line, many of whom are contesting again alongside some first-timers.
Conservative Party MP Alok Sharma and Labor veteran Virendra Sharma are among the top British Indians not seeking re-election this time, from Reading West and Ealing Southall. The latter constituency, with its large Punjabi electorate, had two British Sikh candidates contesting as Independents – Sangeet Kaur Bhail and Jaginder Singh. Some of the main British Indian candidates to watch in the polls include Praful Nargund, who is contesting for the Labor Party in Islington North – the seat of the party’s now-suspended leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is contesting as an Independent candidate.
Jas Athwal is competing in another Labor stronghold of Iford South, while Baggy Shanker in Derby South, Satvir Kaur in Southampton Test, and Harpreet Uppal in Huddersfield are contesting other marginal seats for the party.
Rajesh Agrawal, the Indore-born former Deputy Mayor of London for Business, is fighting to become the first MP from Leicester East against British Indian Conservative candidate Shivani Raja.
This constituency, which represents a large electorate of Indian heritage, will be closely watched as former MP of Goan origin, Keith Vaz, is also in the race as an Independent candidate.
British Sikhs, including barrister Warinder Juss from Wolverhampton West in central England and Gurinder Singh Josan from Smethwick, will be hoping for gains for Labour, as will Bihar-born Kanishka Narayan who is contesting in the Vale of Glamorgan – hoping to be elected as India first. -original MP from Wales, and Sonia Kumar has to overthrow the Tory majority in Dudley.
For the Conservative Party, Chandra Kanneganti in Stoke-on-Trent Central and Ameet Jogia in Hendon face a tough battle in a race that has been forecast for the Opposition Labor Party.
“Diverse parliamentarians bring different perspectives to their work, which can lead to more effective policy-making. Members of parliament who come from different backgrounds can be role models for communities, inspiring young people to vote and participate in politics, “said Jill Rutter, British Future Associate Fellow who led the think tank’s analysis.
Of the sitting MPs, British Indians most vulnerable to a Labor swing in the election include Tory MPs Shailesh Vara from North West Cambridgeshire, Gagan Mohindra from South West Hertfordshire and Claire Coutinho from East Surrey.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to hold seats in Richmond and Northallerton in northern England, as well as former Cabinet colleagues Priti Patel in Witham in Essex and Suella Braverman in Fareham and Waterlooville.
With a number of retirements and exits, mostly from incumbent Tories, the new Parliament elected on Friday will see around 158 new MPs in the House of Commons.
