After 14 years of Conservative rule, the Labor party secured a landslide victory. Keir Starmer is the new Prime Mminister. The UK general election has resulted in a record number of 26 members of Parliament with Indian-origin MPs elected to the House of Commons.
There were 15 Members of Parliament (MPs) of Indian descent in the previous parliament, led by Prime Minister Rishi Saunak. Eight were from the Labour Party and Seven were from the conservatives.
Up to 107 British-Indians ran for the 680 available seats in the general elections of 2024 in UK. Compared to the outgoing House, the new House of Commons will have 26 more Members of Indian descent.
Here are some British Indians who won:
Rishi Sunak
Leader of Conservative Party and outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has kept his seat in northern England despite losing to the Labour Party in the general election. “After his Conservative party’s defeat, power will change hands today in a peaceful manner with goodwill on all sides,” declared Sunak.
Shivani Raja
The leader of the Conservative Party, Shivani Raja claimed victory from Leicester East. She faced formidable opponents in the form of independents candidates Keith Vaz and former MP Claude Webbe.
Raja, who was born in Leicester, attended Queen Elizabeth II College, Wyggeston, Soar Valley College, and Herrick Primary School there. She obtained her degree in Cosmetic Science with First Class Honours from De Montfort University.
Gagan Mohindra
Gagan Mohindra managed to hold onto his conservative seat in Southwest Hertfordshire. After becoming a member of the Conservative Party in 2022, Mohindra was elected to the Parish Council for the first time in June 2004.
Mohindra was selected to serve as Southwest Hertfordshire’s representative after joining the Conservative Party in 2002. He was elected to the Parish Council for the first time in June 2004. He was selected to serve as Southwest Hertfordshire ’s Member of Parliament in 2019. In September 2023, he was appointed as an Assistant Government Whip. Prior to that, he worked as the Department of Transport’s Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS), the Home Secretary’s and the Foreign Secretary’s PPS since September 2022.
Suella Braverman
The Conservative party leader Suella Braverman emerged victorious from the Fareham and Waterlooville seat. In the most recent cabinet reshuffle of Rishi Sunak, James Cleverly took over as interior minister, replacing Indian-origin Braverman. In addition, she lost her job as home secretary for questioning Prime Minister Sunak.
Preet Kaur Gill
Gill, a candidate for the Labour Party, won the Birmingham Edgbaston seat. She chronicled her political career in the UK on her official website, where she first served as the Conservative MP for East Surrey in December 2019.
She began her career at Merril Lynch and holds a master’s degree in philosophy and mathematics from Oxford. Gill then decided to pursue a career in social justice and British mathematics from Oxford. She also served as a special Adviser for the government, working at HM Treasury.
Also, together with their colleagues, these elected officials serve as an example of the UK Parliament’s increasing diversity and representation. Though, their accomplishments not only represent a turning point in British political history, but they also highlight how crucial inclusive governance, and a range of viewpoints are to the future development of the country.
The contributions made by British Indians in politics and public service bear witness to the dynamic nature of British Society and the changing face of democratic representation.
The election of 2024 represents both a collective move toward a more representative and inclusive democracy for all British citizens, as well as the continuation of their respective journeys.
Diksha Nayyar is a versatile writer with a passion for creating engaging and insightful articles on a wide range of topics. With a background in Journalism, she brings a keen eye for detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality content. Diksha has written extensively about health, social issues and technology, aiming to inform and inspire readers. Outside of writing, she enjoys trying out new restaurants and playing with dogs.
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