A RECORD number of ethnic minority MPs have been elected in the general election, figures revealed on Friday morning (13).
One in ten representatives are now from an ethnic minority background, an increase from a decade ago when the figure was one in 40.
There will be 65 BAME MPs – the highest number so far, compared to 52 non-white MPs at the 2017 general election.
Thinktank British Future said there are 22 non-white Conservative MPs, 41 Labour and two Lib Dems.
In all, 19 new MPs from an ethnic minority background will be entering parliament.
However, there are no non-white representatives in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
British Future director Sunder Katwala said the level of ethnic minority representation was “welcome progress towards a parliament that reflects the multi-ethnic society that it represents”.
“Parties faced serious challenges during the campaign over prejudice and racism,” he said.
“The increasing number of ethnic minority MPs can play an important role in ensuring each party does put its house in order – and shows that it can appeal to citizens of any ethnic or faith background.”
He added: “The growing diversity of Parliament has moved faster than that of FTSE 100 boardrooms – which has flatlined over the last ten years. A rising number of ethnic minority MPs should put additional pressure on other institutions to show that they can keep pace with Britain’s growing diversity too.
Notable additions include Labour’s Kim Johnson, Liverpool’s first ever black MP, and Saqib Bhatti who beat Nick Timothy, Theresa May’s former advisor, to be selected as Tory candidate for Meriden.
Labour's Claudia Webbe has been elected as representative for Leicester East, a seat previously held by veteran MP Keith Vaz.
All the Indian-origin MPs from the previous Parliament were successful in clinching their seats, with Gagan Mohindra and Claire Coutinho for the Conservative Party and Navendru Mishra for Labour among the first timers.
Other prominent British Asian MPs who held their seats include Priti Patel (Witham); Alok Sharma (Reading West); Rishi Sunak (Richmond, Yorkshire); Virendra Sharma (Ealing Southall); Preet Gill (Edgbaston); Tan Dhesi (Slough) and Suella Braverman (Fareham).
Davindra and Seema Misra, and Vijay and Gita Parekh
Varchas Patel with his father Vipin and mother Jayshriben
Hasmukh Shingadia and his wife Chandrika were all victims of the Horizon scandal
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)