Meet the 12 Indian-Origin MPs of the British House of Commons
UK got its first Turban-wearing and first Sikh female MPs, apart from 12 other Indian-origin MPs.
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Britain on Friday got its first female Sikh and first turban-wearing MPs as the results for UK elections began pouring in. Indian-origin Labour Party candidates won more seats than their rival Conservatives.
A significant milestone has been reached by Sikh politicians in UK’s general elections, in addition to 12 other Indian-origin MPs – both from Labour and Conservative Parties – who have won or retained their seats.
Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Tan)
From the opposition Labour Party, Tan Dhesi won from Slough and is the first turban-wearing Sikh politician to be elected in the UK. He won by decisively polling 34,170 votes.
Preet Kaur Gill
Labour Party candidate Preet Kaur Gill won her Birmingham Edgbaston seat by polling 24,124 votes, defeating ruling Conservative party rival Caroline Squire by 6,917 votes. She is the daughter of a bus driver. She works for a housing association movement and with those most in need of affordable housing.
Keith Vaz
The longest serving Indian-origin MP Keith Vaz from the Labour Party managed to hold on to his Leicester East seat attracting 35,116 votes. He was the first person of Asian origin to sit in the House of Commons since 1922. His interests include health issues.
Valerie Vaz
Keith’s sister Valerie Vaz also had a massive win with 25,286 votes to hold on to her Walsall South seat. She was previously a lawyer. In Parliament, Valerie has presented two 10 Minute Rule Bills on epilepsy and adoption.
Alok Sharma
A chartered accountant before politician, Alok Sharma of the Conservative Party was appointed in 2016 as the Prime Minister’s Infrastructure Envoy to India. He held on to Reading West by 2,876 votes. He has campaigned to deliver a government investment in local infrastructure.
Priti Patel
Conservative Party's Priti Patel has held on to her stronghold of Witham in Essex with a solid majority of 18,646 votes. A previous member of the Conservative Party Board, Patel is interested in business, investment and trade.
Rishi Sunak
First timer for the Tories in 2015, Rishi Sunak held on to his seat with a big margin of 23,108 votes. He stands firm on his campaigns for local businesses and issues of farming.
Suella Fernandes
Also from the Conservative Party, Fernandes won Farahem with 21,555 votes. She works to improve local infrastructure and transport, along with expanding opportunities for the youth.
Shailesh Vara
Shailesh Vara has won in Cambridgeshire North West by 18,008 votes. He has introduced two Private Members’ Bills. The first, regarding breast cancer screening and the second for greater security of house holders.
Lisa Nandy
Lisa Nandy won in Wigan for Labour with 29,575 votes. Since being elected, Nandy has pursued wide-ranging campaigns – from child abuse, educational allowance, and against human rights abuses in Palestine.
Seema Malhotra
Seema Malhotra held on to Feltham & Heston with 32,462 votes. She was a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Exiting the European Union.
Virendra Sharma
Virendra Sharma polled 31,720 in his safe seat of Ealing Southall. He chairs the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and also works for health and human rights issues.
Regardless, there have also been some prominent losses.
Labour's Neeraj Patil – the former mayor of the London Borough of Lambeth – lost to Justine Greening, UK's Education Minister.
Paul Uppal, who was expected to regain Wolverhampton South West for the Tories, also lost out to his Labour rival.
Kuldip Sahota from Telford, another turban-wearing Labour candidate, also lost by 720 votes.
(With inputs from PTI)
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