Historic Election Sees 26 Indian-Origin MPs, Including 10 Sikhs, Elected to UK Parliament

In a historic turn of events, a record-breaking 26 Indian-origin Members of Parliament, including 10 Sikh MPs have secured seats in the UK’s House of Commons following the latest general election results, underscoring their growing influence despite widespread electoral upheaval. All the 10 newly-elected Sikh MPs, including five women and five men, belong to the Labour Party.

Of the 10 Sikh MPs, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Preet Kaur Gill — who have been vocal in the UK parliament over Sikh and other issues — were elected for the third time in a row, others are first-time MPs.

Leading the charge among British Indians who won is outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who secured a decisive victory in his Richmond and Northallerton constituency in Yorkshire. Despite significant losses for his Conservative Party, Sunak expressed gratitude to his constituents, vowing to continue serving them steadfastly into the future.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the people of Richmond and Northallerton for your continued support,” Sunak stated in a heartfelt message aimed at dismissing speculation about his political future.

Breaking new ground, Kirith Entwistle, known as Kirith Ahluwali, became the first female MP for Bolton North East, securing over 16,000 votes. Sonia Kumar made history as the first woman MP from the Dudley constituency, while Harpreet Kaur Uppal triumphed in Huddersfield, entering Parliament for the first time.

Satvir Kaur claimed victory in the Southampton Test seat with 15,945 votes, and Warinder Juss emerged victorious in Wolverhampton West, gathering 8,000 votes in his debut parliamentary win. Additionally, Dr. Jeevun Sandher and Jas Athwal won seats in Loughborough and Ilford South, respectively, while Gurinder Singh Josan captured the Smethwick seat, marking his first term as an MP.

This election saw the Labour Party return to power after more than a decade in opposition, driven by a stagnant economy and a disheartened populace. Labour secured an impressive 410 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons, with the Conservative Party lagging behind at 118 seats.

The Labour Party’s triumph and the historic election of 10 Sikh MPs underscore a momentous shift towards inclusivity and representation in British politics, reflecting the nation’s evolving demographic and cultural landscape.