In 2024/25, around 16% of the UK population was from a minority ethnic background. According to the 2021 Census, this ranged from 3% in Northern Ireland to 19% in England. Over the years, the UK has seen a steady rise in both ethnic diversity and the representation of minority groups in public life.
However, when it comes to political participation, British Hindus appear to lag behind their Muslim and Sikh counterparts. Despite being one of the most economically successful and highly educated communities in the country, Hindu political engagement remains comparatively low.
In the 2024 General Election, around 25 Muslim MPs, 12 Sikh MPs, and 9 Hindu MPs were elected. Overall, an estimated 90 MPs (14%) were from minority ethnic backgrounds, the highest level to date. According to the Labour Muslim Network, there are now over 500 Muslim councillors across the UK, more than 75% of them representing the Labour Party.
In contrast, Hindu representation remains limited. Across London boroughs, approximately 80 to 90 Hindu councillors serve, but significant gaps remain. Several boroughs, including Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Westminster, Richmond upon Thames, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, and Bexley, have no Hindu councillors at all. Even Leicester, home to one of the UK’s largest Hindu populations, has only 11 Hindu councillors.
This disparity highlights a growing concern: British Hindus are underrepresented in local and national politics. Even though the UK has had its first Hindu Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, the wider community continues to struggle for visibility and influence. In comparison, the United States, where Hinduism is now the fourth-largest religion and Indians are the second-largest immigrant group, has seen a far greater rise in Hindu political figures.
The issue goes beyond party politics. There is an increasing worry that Hindu underrepresentation stems from a lack of engagement in civic life, which may ultimately leave the community unheard in national decision-making despite its substantial contributions to the country’s economy, culture, and public service.
While the UK has taken significant steps to combat hatred and intolerance including over £1 million committed this year to monitor Islamophobia and support victims of anti-Muslim hate crimes, questions remain about the support available for other communities such as the Hindus.
Where does anti-Hindu hate fit into this framework and without stronger political representation, who is speaking up for the British Hindus?
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"British Hindus still feel they’re not fully included in society"
Asian Voice approached several Indian-origin councillors about their experience and the wider issue of Hindu underrepresentation in UK politics.
Councillor Ameet Jogia MBE said, “In the last General Election, I lost the Hendon seat by just 15 votes, a margin that could have been overturned by just a few households. Hendon has a significant Hindu community, yet many British Hindus later expressed regret that they hadn’t voted. Too often, there is a sense of apathy, a belief that one vote doesn’t matter or that politics is distant from everyday life. It’s disheartening, especially when our community makes such a tremendous contribution to the UK economy but often feels disconnected from civic life. This isn’t about supporting any particular party, but about recognising the importance of participation; voting, engaging, and holding elected representatives accountable. Many British Hindus still feel they’re not fully included in society, but things are changing. My experience has shown that every single vote counts, and we must empower our community to ensure their voices are heard.”
Councillor Chaman Lal said, “My experience of serving as a Birmingham city councillor since 1994 is that it appears to me that the Hindu community lacks enthusiasm or interest in the local politics and don’t join the political parties hence, we have low political representation of the Hindus in the UK. I know that there are some areas with a large Hindu population that do have some political representation, but it is very low compared to the other communities and my advice is that the Hindus need to join the political parties to address this issue.”
Councillor Kumud Joshi, commenting on the lower political representation of Hindus, said, “Several factors contribute to this. First, Hindus make up only around 1.6–1.7% of the UK population, which naturally limits electoral influence. The community is also geographically dispersed rather than concentrated in specific constituencies, reducing the chances of forming a strong, unified voting bloc.
"Historically, many Hindu migrants focused on education, professional growth and building businesses rather than political engagement, which delayed the development of a strong political presence. Organised political mobilisation, such as coordinated advocacy and manifestos, has also emerged much later for Hindus compared to established Sikh and Muslim networks.”
On the role of cultural attitudes, community priorities, and party dynamics, Cllr Joshi said: “Cultural attitudes within the Hindu community often place politics secondary to professional careers and community service, which has historically limited political engagement. Community concerns, such as temple security or anti-Hindu hate, were typically handled informally rather than through structured lobbying or advocacy, reducing political visibility.
"Party dynamics have also played a role. Labour saw a decline in Hindu support after its stance on Kashmir in 2019, while the Conservatives have increased their outreach and recruited more Indian-origin candidates. However, representation within the party remains limited beyond a few high-profile figures.”
On how to encourage greater Hindu participation in politics, Cllr Joshi added, “Political parties need to create stronger mentorship and talent pipelines by actively supporting Hindu candidates at the local level. The community should also expand initiatives such as Hindu hustings and advocacy campaigns to build visibility and engagement. At the policy level, there must be a stronger push for recognition of Hindu concerns and priorities within mainstream political discussions.”
*This is a developing story. Asian Voice is looking into several sectors to assess Hindu representation across Britain and understand the growing concerns among the community members.
