More female and BAME members in the House of Commons
By Milton Tella – The 2019 elections in the United Kingdom have recorded a growth in the numbers of Members of Parliament from the ethnic minority background in the House of Commons, a great reflection of British diversity.
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, while welcoming MPs on return to the parliament said, ‘I would say it is one of the best Parliaments that this country has ever produced, with more female members than ever before, more black and minority ethnic members than ever before.’
The Labour Party has continued to be the most favoured party by the ethnic minority and these has reflected by the increased number of black and minority ethnic MPs.
The new parliament has the most diverse representation with 65 MPs from Black and Minority Ethnic background. Labour Party now has 20% parliamentary representatives with 41 from the ethnic minority an increase from 32 members in 2017.
The Conservative Party now has 22 MPs as against 19 from the 2017 general election. Labour now has one in five MPs from BAME background and the conservatives have 6% representation.
One of the newly elected Labour MPs is Taiwo Owatemi, a London pharmacist, selected to represent Coventry North West. Taiwo delivered one of the most surprising results of the 2019 elections.
Taiwo holds a masters degree from the University of Kent and she is a qualified pharmacist. She worked as a senior oncology pharmacist in a cancer unit in the NHS prior to her election to Parliament
The 27-year old pharmacist grew up in Plumstead, London. She received 20,918 votes, just 208 more than her nearest Conservative Party rival, Clare Golby, who got 20,710 votes, in what was considered a safe seat for Labour.
Owatemi’s priorities include the future of the NHS, ending the housing crisis and tackling knife crime.
Following the result, Owatemi tweeted: “I’m pleased to have been selected as @UKLabour candidate from @WestClp. I’d like to thank@desarthur4covnw for running such a gracious campaign and wish him all the best.
“I’d also like to thank everyone who campaigned and voted for me. Looking forward to keeping the seat red.”
Abena Oppong-Asare is the first female Ghanian-British elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Erith and Thamesmead in the 2019 general election
Abena studied Politics with International Relations at the University of Kent where she also attained a Master’s degree in International Law with International Relations.
She is the chair of Labour Women’s Network. From 2014 to 2018, she was a Labour Party Councillor for Erith ward on Bexley Council, serving as Deputy Leader of the opposition Labour Group from 2014 to 2016.
Oppong-Asare has also previously served as a parliamentary assistant and constituency liaison officer, and has advised the shadow minister for Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls.
Abena Oppong-Asare MP tweeted: “I’m soo friggin tired but me and @FloEshalomi couldn’t wait to get to stuck in. We been in Parliament hitting the ground running! The result for the #LabourParty was disappointing but we have to keep fighting! Nice to see @BellRibeiroAddy @CllrFleur also getting to stuck in!”
Florence Eshalomi won the 2019 elections to become the Member of Parliament for Vauxhall. From 2006 to 2018 she was a local councillor representing the Brixton Hill ward in Lambeth council.
Eshalomi wrote on her twitter handle: “Thank you Vauxhall residents for this honour to represent you and for putting your faith in me. It was time for change.
“I’m truly gutted for candidates that were not re-elected. The people of Vauxhall need a Labour Government and I will continue fight for a fairer society for us all.”
Kim Johnson is elected as Member of Parliament for Liverpool Riverside in the 2019 general election. She is Liverpool’s first ever black MP.
Johnson was the creative diversity manager in Liverpool’s Capital of Culture bid team from 2005-08. Kim is a trade unionist, grandmother, adult social care worker and has previously worked on Surestart and childcare strategy at the DFES.
Re-elected for the second time is Newcastle’s first black MP, Chinyelu Susan Onwurah who was elected at the 2010 general election as the Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne Central.
Onwurah on her tweeter handle wrote: “Today I was sworn in as Member of Parliament for Newcastle Central. It is an honour & a privilege to represent you, the people of Newcastle Central. However, you voted I am your voice in Parliament & will do all I can to help you.”
Also the House of Commons have recorded Labour’s first British Chinese MP, Sarah Owen, to represent Luton North. Sarah is the second British Chinese MP to be elected and the first is the Conservative MP Alan Mak, who was re-elected for the seat of Havant for the second time.
Even though some experience hands like Chuka Umunna and Sam Gyimah lost their bids to be re-elected to represent Westminster and Kensington respectively, and therefore not returning to the House of Commons, the 2019 General Election has recorded a record increase in the number of ethnic minorities. This will continue to shape the political future of Great Britain.
Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland are yet to elect Members of Parliament from the ethnic minority background.
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