THE NATION
A record eight United Kingdom (UK) politicians of Nigerian origin have been elected into the House of Commons following the announcement of results from the July 4 general election.
Leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer, has become the Prime Minister of the UK following his party’s remarkable victory, ending the 14-year rule of the Conservative Party.
Notably, Thursday’s election delivered the most diverse parliament in the country’s history, with a notable increase in the number of members of parliament of ethnic minorities.
About 30 Nigerians participated as candidates in the poll, representing their various constituencies. Out of the eight elected, six are returning members of parliament, having served in the last session of the House.
Those who won re-election are the Conservative duo of Kemi Badenoch (North West Essex), Helen Grant (Maidstone).
Despite her victory at the poll, Badenoch, who is a frontline contender in the Tories leadership contest after the resignation of former PM Rishi Sunak, said her party must regroup and win the confidence of the people back.
“As a party, the Conservatives must come back together, look deep in our political souls, and ask some uncomfortable questions,” she said.
Four of those re-elected are from the Labour Party, namely Florence Dauta Eshalomi, Kate Osamor (Edmonton and Winchmore Hill), Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) and Taiwo Owatemi (Coventry North West).
However, Bim Afolabi, the Conservative candidate for Hitchin and Harpenden and Economic Secretary to the Treasury, lost his re-election bid after seven years in the Parliament to Labour’s Alistair Strathern.
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