15 British-Pakistanis elected to most diverse parliament in UK history

ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Britain’s new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, will preside over a parliament that is more ethnically diverse and has more women than ever before, following Labour’s decisive victory in the recent election. The composition of the new parliament highlights significant strides in representation: There are now 15 British-Pakistani MPs, including four newcomers. Labour MPs such as Afzal Khan, Imran Hussain, Naz Shah, Yasmin Qureshi, Muhammad Yasin, Tahir Ali, Shabana Mahmood, Zarah Sultana, Dr Zubir Ahmed, Naushabah Khan, and Dr Rosena Allin-Khan have secured seats. Independents Ayoub Khan and Adnan Hussain, along with Conservatives Saqib Bhatti and Nusrat Ghani, also won seats. The proportion of Black, Asian, and ethnic minority lawmakers in the House of Commons has risen to around 13%, a record high compared to 10% in 2019. Despite these gains, parliamentary diversity still falls short of mirroring the broader population, where 18% are from ethnic minority backgrounds. Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, described this election as a landmark for representation, aligning parliament more closely with the electorate’s diversity. The new parliament also boasts a record number of female lawmakers, including Labour’s Diane Abbott, who becomes “mother of the house” due to her long service. Labour’s substantial victory, securing about 412 seats and a majority of 174, sets the stage for Starmer’s leadership. Expectations are high for a diverse front bench, with figures like David Lammy, Shabana Mahmood, and Ed Milliband anticipated to play prominent roles.