LONDON: Britain’s political landscape has undergone a seismic shift with Keir Starmer securing a decisive victory in Thursday’s election, ending 14 years of Conservative rule and ushering in a parliament marked by unprecedented diversity.
The new House of Commons will be more ethnically diverse and include a record number of women lawmakers. Notably, 15 British-Pakistanis have secured seats, including newcomers Afzal Khan, Imran Hussain, Naz Shah, Yasmin Qureshi, Muhammad Yasin, Tahir Ali, Shabana Mahmood, Zarah Sultana, Dr Zubir Ahmed, Naushabah Khan, and Dr Rosena Allin-Khan.
Joining them are independent candidates Ayoub Khan and Adnan Hussain, alongside Conservative winners Saqib Bhatti and Nusrat Ghani.
According to Reuters, Black, Asian, and ethnic minority lawmakers now comprise approximately 13% of the House of Commons, a notable increase from 10% in 2019. This surge marks the highest-ever representation of ethnic minorities in the lower house, reflecting a more accurate representation of Britain’s diverse electorate.
British Future, a think tank, highlighted the milestone, noting that ethnic diversity in parliament has grown significantly over the past four decades, though it still falls short of fully mirroring the broader population’s diversity, which stands at around 18% in England and Wales.
“The 2024 election signifies a turning point for representation, achieving record diversity that closely aligns with the electorate,” remarked Sunder Katwala, British Future’s director.
The incoming parliament will also boast a record 242 female lawmakers, 22 more than in 2019, underscoring ongoing strides towards gender parity in politics.
Labour’s Diane Abbott, the longest-serving Black female lawmaker who has held her northeast London seat for 37 years, will assume the honorary title of “mother of the house.”
While Labour secured a substantial majority with around 412 seats, discussions are ongoing about the composition of Starmer’s top team, which is expected to include ethnic minority figures such as Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister David Lammy and Justice Minister Shabana Mahmood.
In his final address outside No. 10 Downing Street, outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged Britain’s transformation, stating, “One of Britain’s most remarkable traits is how unremarkable it is that two generations after my grandparents arrived here with little, I could become prime minister.”
Labour’s Rachel Reeves will break new ground as Britain’s first female Chancellor of the Exchequer, signaling a significant milestone in the country’s political history.
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