Stunning rise in BME MPs

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Stunning rise in BME MPs to Westminster

Another one of the unexpected results of this election has seen a remarkable rise in BME MP’s in Westminster with 11 new BME MP’s and only one loss, taking the number now to 52 BME MP’s.

But the numbers don’t tell half of the story about what has occurred in this election.

For this we need to look at the new BME MP’s and where they won too:

Marsha de Cordova (Battersea, Lab)

Preet Gill (Birmingham Edgbaston, Lab)

Fiona Onasanya (Peterborough, Lab)

Kemi Badenoch (Saffron Walden, Con)

Mohammad Yasin (Bedford, Lab)

Bambos Charalambous (Enfield Southgate, Lab)

Leyla Moran (Oxford West and Abingdon, Lib Dem)

Faisal Rashid (Warrington South, Lab)

Eleanor Smith (Wolverhampton South West, Lab)

Bim Alofami (Hitchen and Harpenden, Con)

Tan Dhesi (Slough, Lab)

Afzal Khan –(Manchester Gorton Lab)

From this we can gather a number of points:

First, many more candidates are standing and winning in non-urban areas such as Peterborough, Oxford, Hitchin and Harpenden. This tells us that in spite of all the present challenges- rise in xenophobia, terrorism and tackling race inequality, Britain is comfortable with its multicultural society;

Secondly, more BME people are voting, just look at Battersea, Hitchin, and Slough and Croydon central.

Thirdly, with two more OBV alumni being elected- Tan Dhesi and Marsh De Cordova,  OBV can boast the most successful BME mentoring programme ever, with four MP’s, one directly elected Mayor, 30 councillors and 100 magistrates.

OBV’s director Simon Woolley stated:

‘In many ways today’s result is a great testament for multicultural Britain. More talented BME faces will help transform Parliament and inspire many more to believe that we all have a voice and a place in our society. Of course I’m particularly delighted for OBV alumnus Tan and Marsha, but I’m also thrilled for Bim Alofami and Kemi Badenoch in Saffron Waldon.  Britain’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths. Today we celebrate that.

END.

Notes for editor: 

1)     The website is https://www.raceequality2017.org.uk

2)     OBV is non-partisan political campaigning organisation.

3)     Operation Black Vote exists to ensure we have greater racial justice and equality throughout the UK.