British voters have elected a record number of ethnic minority MPs to the House of Commons, signifying a shift towards greater political involvement among minorities and efforts by political parties to mirror the diverse populace they represent.
An analysis by the British Future think tank reveals that over 13% of the new parliamentarians are from ethnic minority backgrounds, up from 10% in 2019. This is a significant increase, though still below the 18% of the British population identified as non-White in the 2021 census.
However, despite 66 of these 87 MPs being Labour members, similar diversity is not expected in Keir Starmer’s upcoming cabinet. If Starmer continues the tradition of appointing key spokespeople to cabinet positions, only three out of 31 ministers will be from ethnic minority backgrounds. This would represent a decline from the previous cabinet under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which saw a higher proportion of ethnic minority ministers in senior roles.
Historically, Starmer’s shadow cabinet included more ethnic minority MPs, but three resigned in November, along with seven others, over a vote for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Labour’s diverse candidate list, now reflected in more MPs, is attributed to its increasingly diverse membership base.
“Ethnic minority representation is now a staple in British politics,” stated Sunder Katwala, director of British Future. He noted the progress since Labour’s all-White cabinet in 1997, which only saw its first Black cabinet minister, Paul Boateng, five years later.
The Conservative Party’s Progress
While ethnic minority voters traditionally lean towards Labour, the Conservatives have established themselves since 2010 as champions of promoting minorities to top political roles. This began with former Prime Minister David Cameron’s efforts to diversify candidate shortlists, leading to notable appointments like Sayeeda Warsi, the first British Muslim in the cabinet.
The Conservatives increased their minority MPs from just two in 2005 to 22 in 2019, culminating in the appointment of Britain’s first Asian Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. Despite this progress, there has been criticism that these appointments have not translated into tangible benefits for marginalized communities.
Dr. Rima Saini, a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Middlesex University, commented, “Diversity within the Conservative Party Cabinet hasn’t equated to racial justice. It’s more a mechanism to modernize the party.”
Labour’s Social Diversity
Starmer’s cabinet is expected to contrast sharply with the previous Conservative administrations, particularly in terms of social background. Approximately 77.5% of his shadow cabinet members attended state schools, compared to the Conservative cabinets dominated by figures like Boris Johnson and David Cameron, known for their privileged backgrounds.
This demographic shift may already influence policy directions, such as proposals to eliminate tax breaks for private schools and reinvest the funds in public education.
Starmer faces significant pressure to deliver on his promises, with expectations to usher in a new era of hope and opportunity, especially for the nation’s most disadvantaged.
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