UK’s New Parliament Most Diverse Ever Except at the Top

  • Labour’s diverse MPs not reflected in its shadow cabinet
  • Conservative Party elevated minority MPs to positions of power
Photographs: Bloomberg, AFP, Getty Images

British voters elected the largest ever number of ethnic minority MPs to the House of Commons on Thursday, a reflection of more minorities becoming involved in politics as well as political parties seeking to reflect the people they represent.

More than 13% of the new parliament come from an ethnic minority background, according to an analysis by the British Future think tank, an increase from 10% in 2019. More broadly, 18% of the British population belongs to a non-White ethnic group, according to 2021 census data.