TWO newly elected Asian politicians have stressed the importance of representation and diversity in public life, as a record number of ethnic minority MPs were sworn into parliament last month.
Labour’s Apsana Begum and Munira Wilson from the Liberal Democrats were voted into the House of Commons last month. The pair help make up the most diverse parliament ever – 65 MPs elected this year hail from a BAME background. It is a record level of ethnic diversity, compared to 52 non-white MPs after the 2017 general election.
Begum said she believes “the more diverse and accountable political representatives are, the better.” “Parliament should accurately reflect and represent the society it serves,” Begum, the representative for Poplar and Limehouse in east London, told Eastern Eye. “It is important that people are able to feel that politics is for everyone.
“Of course, Labour have led the way in increasing more women and BAME representation in parliament. However, there is much more to be done.”
Wilson, MP for Twickenham, shared similar sentiments that diversity in parliament was vital for the UK. “It’s important that Westminster reflects the country and the public feel their voice is represented in Westminster,” the British Pakistani said.
In October, the Home Office reported that the number of hate crimes had more than doubled since 2013. Government figures revealed that the majority of hate crime offences recorded by police forces in England and Wales were racial – 78,991 – an increase of 11 per cent in the past year, while 47 per cent of religious hate crime offences were targeted against Muslims.
Wilson said she believes that a more diverse parliament might be inclined to introduce tougher legislation in relation to hate crime, which may, in turn, help reduce it. “More widely, we all need to foster a more inclusive and open culture,” she added. “I fear, with Brexit, we are going in the wrong direction.”
Asked if increased diversity could help stem the rise in hate crime, British-Bangladeshi Begum said she thought it could. “In my professional life, I have worked as a diversity and inclusion practitioner, developing strategies and delivering training to make the local workforce more reflective of the local community,” Begum explained. “A big part of this is about building understanding between communities and continually learning and listening.”
Records show that the number of women MPs has increased since the 2017 general election. A total of 220 female MPs were elected last month, 12 more than the previous record of 208.
However, recent years have seen a number of female MPs face abuse and threats in real life and on social media. Eighteen female politicians stood down prior to the December general election, with many citing abuse as the motivating factor. Begum admitted that she was “shocked” by the series of racist and misogynistic attacks she had endured while on the campaign trail. The level of trolling, intimidation and smear campaigns had been relentless, she said.
“It is widely known, of course, that BAME women, in particular, continue to face many barriers when getting involved in public life,” the 29-year-old said.
Although Wilson agreed that the level of abuse against lawmakers was “concerning”, she told Eastern Eye she remained adamant that the abuse would not discourage her from doing her job. “I am determined that we should not allow abusers to win by deterring women from entering politics and doing the job they are elected to do,” she said.
AN ASIAN writer has explained how his new book makes Britain’s imperial past “accessible, engaging and thought-provoking” for a younger audience.
Award-winning author and journalist Sathnam Sanghera’s new book, Journeys of Empire, explores empire through 10 journeys he described as being “extraordinary”. Sanghera said his book, published last month by Puffin UK, is “a way of helping children understand how Britain’s biggest story still shapes the world today.”
“We’re not taught this history very well,” he told Eastern Eye.
“The empire is morally complex – sometimes we were good, sometimes bad – so, how do you even begin talking about it? It’s also contentious. There are millions of us whose families were colonised, and millions whose families were the colonisers.”
Teachers cannot teach what they themselves were never taught, Sanghera pointed out.
“There are multiple layers to why British people are so bad at talking about this history. It touches on race, misogyny and geopolitics. It’s easier just not to talk about it.”
And , the cover of his book
Following the success of his bestselling children’s title Stolen History, Sanghera’s this latest work continues Sanghera’s mission to write for readers aged nine and above. With a focus on human experiences, Sanghera said he wanted show that history is not just a list of dates or conquests – it’s a tapestry of stories that connect people.
Born in Wolverhampton to Punjabi immigrant parents, he began school unable to speak English. Later he graduated with first-class honours in English language and literature from Christ’s College, Cambridge.
He has since built a career as a writer and journalist.
His memoir, The Boy with the Topknot, and his novel, Marriage Material, were both shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards. Empireland, Sanghera’s exploration of Britain’s colonial legacy, was longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non- Fiction, named a Book of the Year at the 2022 National Book Awards, and inspired the Channel 4 documentary series Empire State of Mind.
His first children’s book, Stolen History, introduced young readers to the complex and often overlooked realities of empire. With Journeys of Empire, Sanghera aims to go further. “When I finally learned about the British empire, it changed how I saw myself, how I saw Britain, and how I saw India,” he said.
“It seemed obvious that you’d want to give this gift to young people – because your 40s is a bit late to be learning all this.”
Sanghera said the 10 journeys in the book take readers across continents and centuries, revealing both the ambition and the brutality of empire.
“The British empire covered a quarter of the world’s surface and a large portion of its population. It was seven times the size of the Roman empire,” he said.
Aiming to ensure diversity in both perspective and geography, Sanghera said he chose stories from various countries and different phases of the 400-year history.
Alongside India and Mahatma Gandhi, readers will learn about Guyana’s indentured labour system, Gertrude Bell’s adventures in Iraq, and the British invasion of Tibet led by Francis Younghusband.
“I wanted to highlight areas often left out of mainstream narratives,” the writer said. The stories are written with an accessible and honest tone, and with humour.
“Violence is a tricky area,” Sanghera said. “You can’t go into graphic detail, but you also shouldn’t whitewash it. The violence and racism of colonialism were intrinsic. “I tried to strike a balance - acknowledging the brutality without overwhelming young readers.”
Writing for children isn’t much different from writing for adults, Sanghera said.
“You still need engaging stories and to hold attention. The main thing is to avoid big words that might put them off.”
He pointed out how storytelling can counter the allure of digital screens.
“Kids are addicted to screens, and reading rates are falling globally. That’s disastrous for mental health, intellectual development, and politics,” he said.
“When you get news from screens, you’re in an echo chamber – you’re not being challenged or taught to think in a nuanced way.”
Sanghera’s hope is that stories of Journeys of Empire – from pirates to princes and explorers to rebels – will draw in young readers to a world of curiosity and reflection. He said, “The British empire is a complex story. Even the ‘good guys’ had flaws. That’s what makes it worth understanding.”
At the heart of his book is a message about complexity and contradiction. “The empire involved slavery and the abolition of slavery. It caused environmental destruction and inspired environmentalism. We live in a world that struggles with nuance, but that’s what makes us human,” Sanghera said.
“My hope is that readers – kids and adults – learn that opposite things can be true at the same time.”
After six years of writing about empire, Sanghera said he’s ready for a change. His next book will focus on the late pop star George Michael, due out in June next year.
“I thought George Michael would be a nice break from empire. But then I learned that his father came from Cyprus - which was under British rule. The reason he left Cyprus was because of the British. So, even George Michael’s story connects back to empire. You can’t escape it, wherever you go.”
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