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In the 2015 general elections, 10 Indian origin candidates were elected to Parliament, a record number, but the figure could rise this time. There has been little change in the number of Indian-origin candidates fielded by the main parties: Labour and the Liberal Democrats have remained unchanged at 14 from last time, while the Conservatives have fallen from 17 to 14. While existing Indian-origin MPs are by and large in safe seats with comfortable majorities, and many others are competing in constituencies with strong majorities for other political parties, there are a number of exceptions that could change the balance, such as the central England constituency of Wolverhampton South West. Paul Uppal, the Conservative candidate for the seat was its MP till 2010, but lost by a whisker of just 801 votes.
After Labour MP Rob Marris has said he would step down, the party has put forward Eleanor Smith, a former trade union president, and nurse to contest against him.
Another close contest will be the constituency of Telford, where Labour’s Kuldip Singh Sahota will attempt to oust the Conservative’s Lucy Allon, who won by a majority of 730.
In the Birmingham constituency of Edgbaston, Preet Gill will contest for Labour, replacing Gisela Stuart, who has been the constituency’s representative since 1997.
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