The upcoming general elections in the UK are expected to result in a record number of female and ethnic minority Members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons, according to a report by think-tank British Future. The study anticipates that the number of ethnic minority MPs will likely rise from 65 to potentially 83. This increase represents a significant jump over the past decade and a half, with only 15 ethnic minority MPs in the 2005 to 2010 parliament.
The report suggests that the next parliament will be the most diverse ever, with more women and ethnic minorities likely to sit in the Commons than in previous terms. The study estimates that there will be over 250 women in the Commons after the upcoming general election, up from 220 in 2019. The Labour Party is expected to have 153 women MPs, while the Conservative Party is projected to have 72.
The report also notes that seven of the 14 constituencies where Labour MPs have decided to stand down have selected ethnic minority candidates. This includes candidates like Jas Athwal, of Indian origin, who will defend a 24,101 majority in Ilford South, and others in constituencies like Derby South, Southampton Test, and Huddersfield.
While the Labour Party has the strongest overall record on ethnic minority representation in the Commons, the report highlights that the party is selecting candidates from ethnic minorities at a lower rate (12%) compared to the current proportion in the parliamentary Labour party (20%).
The general elections in the UK are expected to take place in the second half of the year, according to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's "working assumption." The Conservative Party, which has been in power since 2010, is anticipated to face a challenging election against the main opposition. The last general election in December 2019 was won by Boris Johnson on a pledge to "get Brexit done."
(With Agency Inputs)
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