Britain’s Asian Movers And Shakers

There are altogether 154 candidates of South Asian origin in the 2015 elections

• Conservative: 36

• Labour: 30

• Lib-Dem: 32

• UKIP: 21

• Green Party: 8

In the outgoing House of Commons, the Tories have 11 Black and Asian MPs; Labour has 16

Conservatives

Priti Patel, 43

Ethnicity: British Ugandan-Indian

• Currently MP for Witham, Essex in south-east England (since 2010)

• Political leanings To the right, especially on the economy. Daughter of a small business owner, many compare her background to that of Margaret Thatcher. Believes in minimal state and reducing welfare payments. Has a background in PR and business and is a TV regular. Likely to be among top tier of party soon.

Sajid Javid, 45

Ethnicity: British-Pakistani

• Currently Culture secretary and MP for Bromsgrove, in West Midlands (since 2010)

• Political leanings An ex-banker, Javid is laissez- faire economically. One of the few working-class Tories (his father was a bus driver), marked as a potential future party leader. Says he’s a non-practising Muslim, married to a Christian.

Rishi Sunak, 34

Ethnicity: British-Indian

• Currently Conservative candidate for Richmond in North Yorkshire
• Political leanings Sunak, son-in-law of Infy’s Narayana Murthy, is one of the high-profile candidates from the Tories in a seat long represented by party stalwart, William Hague. Having co-founded a large investment firm to help small and entrepreneurial Brit companies, the hope is his victory would boost sector further.

Labour

Rushanara Ali, 40 Ethnicity: British-Bangladeshi

• Currently MP for Benthal Green and Bow, east London (since 2010)

• Political leanings To the left. Represents heavily Muslim/Bangladeshi area of London; left Labour front benches to abstain on motion proposing more military action in Iraq against isis. Background in human rights, foreign affairs, could end up in a high-profile post either in cabinet or shadow cabinet.

Anas Sarwar, 32

Ethnicity: British-Pakistani

• Currently MP for Glasgow Central (since 2010) and former deputy leader of Scottish Labour

• Political leaning: Left, following in the footsteps of father Mohd Sarwar in a city that has long history of union/working class support for Labour. Spearheaded ‘No’ campaign for independence last year and seen as leading light of Scottish left-wing politics.

Sadiq Khan, 44

Ethnicity: British-Pakistani

• Current post: Shadow justice secretary and MP for Tooting (since 2005)

• Political leaning: A centre-leftist and firm Miliband-ite. Khan has held several cabinet posts and was the first Muslim politician in the cabinet when appointed transport secretary by Gordon Brown in 2008. His London connections also make him an outstanding candidate to take on Boris Johnson at the next election for the city’s mayoral post.