The upcoming Snap Election on 8 June is significant to UK's political stability. Called initially to establish the Conservative party supremacy in Westminster, this election promises to give opportunity to more and more Asian candidates to contest. With 36 days to go, the parties are desperate to win the ethnic minority votes, as in 2015, when the Tories won the election- because of the overwhelming support from the Indian community.
According to the Integration and Minority's Report by the Ethnic Minority Forum currently there is a huge disparity between the white population and ethnic population as far as appointments to the 'highest echelons of this society' are concerned.
This includes the number of Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) individuals who are political representatives. The latest data shows that currently 13% of the UK population is from an ethnic minority background. In comparison only 6% of MPs are from an ethnic minority background and an estimated 6.4% of Peers are thought to be from an ethnic minority background. Many look at these figures positively, pointing out that in 2001, for example, it is estimated that the figure was 2.6%. The current figure of 6.4% is therefore seen as signifying a considerable improvement in minority representation.
Some 3,971 candidates stood in the 2015 General Elections - 162 lower than the all-time high of 4,133 in 2010. This time round, the final list of candidates will be confirmed after May 11 - the deadline for submitting an application. To stand as a candidate in the General Election, you have to submit an application to your local returning officer with a £500 deposit.
Reseachers believe this election will not disrupt the early stages of the Brexit negotiation, which will be more around modalities such as what will be discussed, when and by who. These discussions are expected to be able to continue in the run up to the election. The European Council said bigger political decisions will have been on the agenda for much later as they require the new German government to be in place following elections there in September.
Polls, as far as one can rely on them, have recently suggested that the question is not whether May will win, but by what margin. A BBC“poll of polls” put the conservative party between 11 and 25 points ahead of the closest opposition, the Labour party. The Labour party has seen a significant decline in polls since the last general election, as it struggles with infighting over its leader Jeremy Corbyn, and its unclear position on Brexit. With his alleged 'anti-Modi' stands, the Indian community that has a huge number of Narendra Modi (Indian PM) fans, has slowly shifted to supporting Conservative party, with former PM David Cameron wooing them over. However with Theresa May's strict anti-immigration policies, it is possible for the party to lose some of the diaspora support.
In fact Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat Leader criticised the Labour party claiming their record and reputation amongst ethnic minority communities is in tatters. With Labour’s vote share among ethnic minorities collapsing and the Conservatives lurching increasingly to the right, the Liberal Democrats have a huge opportunity to win swathes of ethnic minority votes, which also saw a significant boost when they were the only party to campaign against the invasion of Iraq. Speaking during an event at Westminster Synagogue he said: "Labour have been taking Britain’s ethnic minority communities for granted for far too long.
“Even before Brexit, it was an open secret that Labour weren’t engaging with certain communities because they felt ethnic minorities would vote for them regardless. Even their own MP Chuka Umunna has admitted that.
“But now that Labour have waived the white flag on Brexit and given Theresa May a blank cheque to choose the hardest and most divisive form of Brexit – I want to openly say to Labour voters – join us.”
New Asian candidates join the MP race
The Labour Party has announced selection of Navin Shah, current London Assembly Member for Harrow and Brent, as the candidate for the seat of Harrow East for 2017 General Election. This is a popular move as Navin is a well recognised and well respected activist who is a longstanding resident of Harrow with a proven track-record.
During 40 years as a Harrow resident Navin has actively worked with voluntary sector including community and anti-racist groups. For 23 years he has served as an elected member in various capacities. From 1994 to 2014 he was a Councillor in Harrow East, including serving as Leader of Harrow Council and since 2008 he has been a London Assembly Member representing Brent and Harrow. Navin’s wife Cllr Rekha Shah represents Wealdstone ward in Harrow East and is the current Mayor of Harrow and his daughter Cllr Aneka Shah-Levy is a Harrow East councillor.
This is a strong move by the Labour Party and a serious challenge to the incumbent Bob Blackaman. It was in 2008, against all odds, Navin Shah defeated Bob Blackman who was then the Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow.
Navin Shah speaking about his selection said: “I am deeply honoured to go forward as Labour’s candidate for Harrow East for the forthcoming General Election. As a long serving resident of some 40 years in Harrow I see this as an opportunity to represent Harrow’s diverse community in Parliament and fight their corner as I have done throughout my community and political work”.
“During the course of the election campaign I will be putting forward my vision and plan to serve Harrow’s residents and businesses. On some of the key issues - I’m passionate about our National Health Service which is under threat from Conservatives; Social Care and Mental Health need greater attention and resources; We need a serious programme of house building as pledged by Labour to address the housing crisis and I’m opposed to the conservative cuts to education funding. On Brexit negotiations, I will be firmly opposed to Theresa May having a blank cheque. Have no doubt, I will stand up for the best interest of Harrow and UK.”
“I pledge to continue to work proactively with Harrow Council and the Mayor of London for better and enhanced services for people of Harrow and London. Throughout my career I have fought, alongside our community and faith groups, to meet the needs of our diverse communities. I’m proud of my record in the areas of equality, justice and fighting against all forms of discrimination. I look forward to having further engagement with all our communities and leaders for an ongoing dialogue to best understand and serve Harrow’s communities.”
The Conservative Party has selected Resham Kotecha, aged 28, as their Parliamentary Candidate to fight the marginal seat of Coventry North West at next month's General Election. The seat is currently held by Geoffrey Robinson, aged 78, for the Labour Party, but with a small majority of only 4,500 votes. It is the second seat where the Conservatives have chosen a young Gujarati candidate - the other being Brent North where Councillor Ameet Jogia has been chosen to contest Barry Gardiner.
Resham was born in London, to Gujarati parents who came to the UK to study from East Africa. One of twin sisters, she read Economics at Cambridge University before starting work as a strategy consultant advising both public and private sector organisations.
Resham previously stood as a Parliamentary Candidate during the 2015 General Election in Dulwich and West Norwood. She is Deputy Chair of the Northwood Conservatives and Head of Engagement for Women2Win, an organisation co-founded by Prime Minister Theresa May, to encourage more Conservative women to enter Parliament.
Resham has spoken and written regularly in the media about the importance of getting more Asians, young people, and women involved in politics. She is President of the under 35’s board of the Young Women’s India Association, the oldest Asian charity in UK, and was a finalist for the Asian Women of Achievement Awards.
Resham will be working hard over the next five weeks to overturn Geoffrey Robinson's majority and win the Coventry North West seat for the Conservatives - the first time since its creation in 1974.
Former Conservative MP Paul Uppal, who had lost his seat in the 2015 election, is back to politics, standing from Wolverhampton South West, whereas Samir Jassal is representing Feltham & Heston, which has been a territory for MP Seema Malhotra for the past few years. Samir has formerly been a candidate from East Ham constituency in 2015 general election, which he lost to Labour candidate Stephen Timms.
Highlight is also Kolkata boy Rohit Dasgupta, who was born and brought up in Kolkata and graduated from Jadavpur University only eight years ago, will be contesting the elections from East Hampshire seat on a Labour Party ticket. He will be the first Bengali to be in the electoral fray in the UK.
Dasgupta, a lecturer at the Loughborough University, London, has been living in the UK for past eight years and became a member of the Labour Party seven years ago. He had graduated in comparative literature from JU in 2009. Born in Bhowanipur, Dasgupta studied at St. James School before enrolling at the JU. Dasgupta was also a member of Forum for Arts Students. In his first year at JU, he was elected as a student representative for the student’s union. His parents live at Mahajati Nagar at Birati in the northern outskirts of Kolkata. His father used to work for power utility CESC, and mother was a homemaker. Dasgupta reportedly received the formal letter informing him of his candidature on April 30. However he is fighting against odds as that seat is a stronghold for Conservative party, but he is hopeful, so is the Labour party.
MP Virendra Sharma, the Ealing Southall candidate, on Sunday visited Slough in support of Tan Dhesi the Labour candidate for Parliament. While speaking in support of Tan, the newly adopted candidate, Virendra Sharma was pleased to outline Tan's commitment to the Labour Party and his fantastic credentials for entering Parliament. He said: "I am pleased to be able to stand here today and fully commend Tan Dhesi to you as your Labour candidate and when he is elected on June 8th he will make a fine addition to Parliament. It is great to see so many Labour councillors here today, including the leader of the Labour Group and Council.
“Tanmanjeet has shown himself to be an exemplary councillor in Gravesham and he will bring that same dedication and drive to representing his home town of Slough in Parliament. I know that he is part of the Labour team and will collaborate and work with everyone else for a Labour victory."
Old MPs make a return
Hounslow MP Seema Malhotra last week announced that she will stand again in the election to represent her constituency of Feltham and Heston.
Responding to the announcement of a snap General Election on 8th June, Seema Malhotra said: "This is a Prime Minister once again focussed on her own interests not on the interests of the country.
“At a time when we have growing inequality in education, a Budget that gives to the most wealthy, an NHS in need desperate need of funding and youth services being cut, the Prime Minister should be focussed on healing divisions not widening them.
"For our shared prosperity, community cohesion, our NHS, a better education for our kids, I will stand again to be MP for Feltham & Heston”
Labour's Parliamentary group will lose former home secretary Alan Johnson, leading Leave campaigner Gisela Stuart and former health secretary Andy Burnham, who is tipped to become Mayor of Greater Manchester in May's local elections. says he will not stand again in June. There are at least 17 other MPs known not to be standing, but none of them are Asians.
Tories Zac Golsmith and Esther McVey both lost their seats are selected to return in 2017. 73-year-old former business secretary Vince Cable has confirmed he will stand again after losing his Twickenham seat to the Tories in 2015. Former Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes and energy secretary Ed Davey will follow suit.
MPs not standing this election
There are a number of well-known politicians stepping down in this election - including former Chancellor and then-favourite to become the next Prime Minister, George Osborne.
Other Tory big-hitters to be leaving are former Conservative Party chairman Sir Eric Pickles, long-standing chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, Andrew Tyrie and Tory-turned-UKIP-turned-independent MP Douglas Carswell.
How candidates selected by parties?
While most candidates standing for election will be drawn from political parties, they can also stand as independents. In our first past the post system, the person with the most votes in a constituency is elected as its MP.
The major parties - including Labour, the Conservatives, the SNP and the Lib Dems - have all said that they intend to complete their selections within the next week.
The Conservatives' 330 MPs will be re-selected. This will happen in all but four cases, where four Tory MPs have decided to step down.
In these four constituencies, as well as in target seats, local party members will get to choose from a central office-chosen shortlist of three candidates.
Labour will also automatically re-select its 229 MPs - although 12 Labour MPs are standing down, including former home secretary Alan Johnson.
All 54 of the SNP's existing MPs are expected to stand again, riding on the success of their 2015 campaign.
Here is a list of the 22 British Asian MPs in the Parliament since 2015:
Conservative Party
- Rehman Chisti (Gillingham and Rainham)
- Nusrat Ghani (Wealden)
- Sajid Javid (Bromsgrove)
- Ranil Jayawardena (North East Hampshire)
- Priti Patel (Witham)
- Alok Sharma (Reading West)
- Rishi Sunak (Richmond – Yorkshire)
- Shailesh Vara (North West Cambridgeshire)
Labour Party
- Rushanara Ali (Bethnal Green and Bow)
- Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton)
- Imran Hussain (Bradford East)
- Sadiq Khan (Tooting)
- Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham Perry Barr)
- Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham Ladywood)
- Seema Malhotra (Feltham and Heston) [Labour and Co-operative Party]
- Lisa Nandy (Wigan)
- Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South East)
- Naseem Shah (Bradford West)
- Virendra Sharma (Ealing Southall)
- Keith Vaz (Leicester East)
- Valerie Vaz (Walsall South)
Scottish National Party (SNP)
- Tasmina Sheikh (Ochil and South Perthshire)
