The UK’s general election results unveiled a historic moment as a record-breaking 26 Indian-origin Members of Parliament secured seats in the House of Commons. Despite significant losses for the Conservative Party overall, several Indian-origin MPs held on to their constituencies, including outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who secured a decisive victory in Richmond and Northallerton, Yorkshire.
“On this challenging night, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the people of Richmond and Northallerton for your unwavering support. Since my family and I moved here a decade ago, you have made us feel truly at home. I look forward to continuing to serve you,” Sunak expressed, addressing speculation about his future in politics.
Other notable Conservative MPs retaining their seats included former Home Secretaries Suella Braverman and Priti Patel, alongside Cabinet ally Claire Coutinho of Goan origin. Gagan Mohindra maintained his seat in South West Hertfordshire, while Shivani Raja gained ground for the Tories in Leicester East, a closely watched contest against Labour’s Rajesh Agrawal.
Labour, celebrating a landslide victory, saw prominent wins among the Indian diaspora, including Seema Malhotra in Feltham and Heston, Valerie Vaz in Walsall and Bloxwich, and Lisa Nandy in Wigan.
Preet Kaur Gill and Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi secured victories for Labour in Birmingham Edgbaston and Slough, respectively, reflecting strong support from the British Sikh community. Newcomers such as Jas Athwal in Ilford South, Baggy Shanker in Derby South, and a host of others marked a significant presence for Labour in Parliament.
The Liberal Democrats also celebrated gains, with Munira Wilson reclaiming Twickenham amidst the party’s overall success in gaining over 60 seats.
In a notable contest, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, running as an Independent, defeated his Indian-origin Labour opponent Praful Nargund in Islington North, a seat closely watched during the election.
The influx of Indian-origin MPs into the British Parliament highlights a vibrant and diverse representation in UK politics, shaping the landscape of governance in the years ahead.
