Tories ‘need to widen appeal among all ethnic minorities’
Party urged to improve candidate diversity as study reveals change in voting patterns
By Sarwar AlamOct 04, 2023
A PROMINENT Conservative party commentator believes the Tories have become “complacent” in reaching out to ethnic minority politicians and voters.
With Rishi Sunak as prime minister and ministers such as Suella Braverman, Kemi Badonech and James Cleverly, the Tory administration has one of the most diverse cabinets in history.
However, Tim Montgomerie, a special advisor to former prime minister Boris Johnson, said the party has not reached out to all ethnic minority communities.
At an event hosted by thinktank The UK in a Changing Europe (UKICE) at the Tory party conference on Monday (2), he said: “If you look at the kind of ethnic minority we promote, a lot of them are privately educated and are from quite prosperous backgrounds.
“As a party, are we really increasing ethnic minority candidates from more disadvantaged communities?”
In 2001, there were no Conservative MPs from minority backgrounds. The 2010 general election saw an increase in the number of ethnic minority MPs in the Conservative party – from two to 11.
There are currently 22 minority ethnic Tory MPs, as a result of a concerted effort to promote more non-white candidates and modernise the party.
However, despite this progress, around six per cent of the Conservatives’ 365 MPs are from a non-white background.
Ethnic minorities constituted 18 per cent of the British population at the last census in 2021.
“We have progressed in terms of ethnic minority representation, not just in candidates, but at the top of the party,” Montgomerie said.
“One of the most exciting things about Britain at the moment is the fact that we have an Asian prime minister and it’s completely non-controversial and welcomed. That’s a mark of how far the country has come and how far the part has come.
“However, I think we’ve also become a bit complacent. The energy that we (Tory party) had to find people who look like Britain, who were immersed in Britain’s various communities, has sort of dissipated. We thought ‘we’ve sorted it’ because the criticism that we got on this front reduced.
“If you look at Laura Kuenssberg’s interview with the prime minister (on the BBC last Sunday), the word that still comes up associated with him and with the party is ‘rich’, somewhat unfairly – but that’s still seen as our primary problem.
James Kanagasooriam
“That’s probably the primary problem we have with candidate diversity as well.” Since 2019, the Conservatives’ voter base has been approximately 97 per cent white. These voters are also statistically more likely to be male, southern and to have voted to leave the EU.
Having ethnic minority MPs from different social backgrounds will help attract more ethnic minority votes for the Tories, Montgomerie said.
During his time as editor of the influential ConservativeHome website (which he set up) between 2005 and 2013, Montgomerie said he would do “percentage watches” of how many women and ethnic minorities were supporting the party.
He described it as a “big part” of media discussions and internal discussions within the party.
“We need to go back to that energy we used to have and realise that the progress we’ve made is actually slightly lopsided and we still have work to do,” he said.
Bim Afolami, the MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, said the Tories can attract a younger cohort of future politicians from ethnic minority communities. He explained that they often hold more Thatcherite values (coined after former prime minister Margaret Thatcher) than their white counterparts.
He gave an example of a recent lecture he gave at Middlesex University, where he noticed a “stark difference” in attitudes between white and non-white students for their plans after university.
Afolami said white students were focused on working in the public sector and were much keener to help people, while the ethnic minority students were more concerned about “making money and being successful”.
“I was struck by that,” Afolami said. “A few months before that, I was giving a talk with some partners at a well-known professional services firm. They brought in some of their graduates to listen to the talk… people aged between 22-25, earning high five figures, soon to be in six-figure salaries.
Tim Montgomerie
“The percentage of ethnic minorities [in the room] was at least two-thirds. I thought, ‘what’s going on here?’
“When I left Oxford University 16 years ago, I knew the firm very well and it was very, very white. I spoke to some of the partners afterwards and asked, ‘do you guys find this weird?’ And they said, ‘these are the best people who apply and really want to earn the money and we don’t get woke nonsense from these guys’.
“There is something very different now. You’re seeing younger, educated ethnic minorities who resemble what my party thinks of as the Thatcher children of the 1980s and 1990s. Their attitude much more resembles that than white students.”
In the 2019 general election, the Conservative party won 20 per cent of the ethnic minority vote, whereas Labour secured 64 per cent. However, an ongoing research project by UKICE and FocalData shows a younger generation of voters are expected to break the traditional voting patterns among ethnic minorities.
James Kanagasooriam, chief research officer at FocalData, said his analysis showed the personal values of a BAME voter don’t always align with that of the political party that they choose.
“The most interesting thing from the data is the paradox that personal values – whether they are authoritarian or liberal – if they are BAME, they do not necessarily translate into the same structure if they are political,” said Kanagasooriam. “Whereas this is very distinct if you are not BAME.”
Bim Afolami
There is not as much data about people from ethnically diverse backgrounds compared to any other section of the electorate. The last full-scale academic study is more than a decade old.
Since then, the UK has seen three general elections and an EU referendum.
However, a recent study by the Guardian found that while British Indians continue to display a preference for Labour, the party’s historical advantage among other ethnic minorities has been eroded. In 2010, a survey identified British Indian support for Labour at 61 per cent, while 24 per cent supported the Tories.
Sophie Stowers
In 2021, the Guardian’s polling suggested just four in 10 British Indians identified with the Labour party, while three in 10 supported the Conservatives, and around one in 10 identified with other parties.
Kanagasooriam is carrying out a largescale study into voting patterns within BAME communities, with the full report expected to be published next year.
His co-researcher, Sophie Stowers from UKICE, said she expected the report to show a more “straightforward link” between personal and political values for younger ethnic minorities.
“Given half of the UK’s minority population is concentrated in three places – London, Birmingham and Manchester – and these are traditionally Labour-leaning cities, if we do continue to see a shift towards a more straightforward link between political and personal values – which might happen among younger generations – it would be interesting to see how that support sort of splinters,” said Stowers.
“My presumption would be it will not be in one direction, it will be towards different political parties.”
The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for thunderstorms across parts of eastern and south-eastern England, in effect from 20:00 BST on Friday to 05:00 on Saturday. The affected area spans from Eastbourne in East Sussex to Cromer in north Norfolk.
The warning indicates a high risk of disruption, with flash flooding, power cuts, and hazardous travel conditions expected. The Met Office warns that flooding of homes and businesses is likely, and delays or cancellations to bus and rail services are possible due to surface water and lightning strikes.
Heavy rain and strong winds forecast
According to the forecast, some locations within the amber zone could see between 30mm and 50mm of rainfall, accompanied by wind gusts exceeding 40–50mph. There is a heightened risk of frequent lightning and intense downpours, leading to flash floods and dangerous driving conditions.
The affected area spans from Eastbourne in East Sussex to Cromer in north NorfolkGetty Images
The Met Office said fast-flowing or deep floodwater could pose a danger to life. People are advised to remain indoors during the worst of the weather and avoid unnecessary travel. Where travel is essential, extreme caution is urged.
Public urged to prepare
Residents in affected areas are being encouraged to check on vulnerable neighbours, especially those who may require assistance with food or medication. The Met Office recommends staying updated with local forecasts, charging electronic devices in advance, and securing outdoor furniture or loose items.
Yellow warnings cover wider region
Alongside the amber alert, several yellow thunderstorm warnings have also been issued:
South-west England and Wales: 14:00–23:59 on Friday
Eastern and south-eastern England: 19:00 on Friday to 06:00 on Saturday
Wales, western and northern England, and Scotland: 00:00–18:00 on Saturday
Heavy rain and thunderstorm warningBBC
Although yellow warnings indicate a lower risk than amber, the severity of thunderstorms could still be high in isolated areas. The warning for Saturday covers more of the UK as the storm system moves westward.
Heatwave peaks before storms arrive
The weather alert comes as Friday could become the hottest day of 2025 so far, with temperatures possibly hitting 30°C around the Norwich area. This would surpass the previous high of 29.3°C recorded at Kew, London, on 1 May.
Elsewhere across East Anglia and south-east England, temperatures are expected to reach the mid to high twenties, which is about 7–10°C above the seasonal average.
Cooler weekend ahead
With rising humidity and atmospheric instability, the thunderstorms are expected to mark the end of the hot spell. Saturday will bring cooler conditions, with temperatures dropping to the low to mid-twenties in the east and the high teens across other parts of the UK.
The Met Office continues to monitor the situation and has advised the public to follow the latest forecasts and travel updates.
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Shergill and his accomplices were arrested on different dates in 2020
THE head of an organised crime group who claimed he was a male escort while masterminding an international operation to import cocaine into the UK has been sentenced to 21 years and three months in jail.
Kulvir Shergill, 43, from the West Midlands, told National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators he made a living through male escort bookings, teaching martial arts and working as a personal trainer.
However, an NCA investigation showed Shergill’s crime group imported around 250kg of cocaine with a street value of £20 million between February 26 and April 24, 2020. The gang used the encrypted communications platform EncroChat in order to arrange the drugs deals.
Shergill and his accomplices are “directly responsible for the horrendous consequences Class A drugs (banned) have among our communities,” said Rick Mackenzie, NCA operations manager. “Proceeds of crime proceedings have been started and all identified assets owned by the defendants have been frozen and are currently under restraint. The NCA will work with our partners at the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] to ensure that any money made from their drug enterprise is recovered.”
Shergill arranged premises for class A drugs to be delivered to in the UK using the EncroChat handle “orderlyswarmer”, the investigation found. He would liaise with contacts in the Netherlands over impending deliveries, before his group distributed them around the country.
Shergill and his accomplices were arrested on different dates in 2020. He initially denied smuggling class A drugs, but eventually admitted the offence.
On September 20 last year, Shergill was jailed at Birmingham crown court. The news can now be reported after the last member of his gang, 43-year-old Jagdeep Singh, was jailed for the same offences last week.
Singh was an electrician by trade, and was tasked with taking receipt of drug deliveries and acting as a warehouseman. At the time of his arrest in April 2020, he was in possession of 30kg of high-purity cocaine.
He has now been sentenced to six years and eight months behind bars.
Three other gang members were also sentenced last September – Khurram Mohammed, 37, jailed for 14 years and four months was Shergill’s second-in-command and a trusted worker.
Shakfat Ali, 38, who travelled around the UK on behalf of the group and is believed to have delivered drugs, was jailed for 16 years and nine months; while Mohammed Sajad, 44, a trusted member of the group, was jailed for 16 years.
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Motorists are being advised to expect significant disruption
Drivers are facing long delays on the M62 following a lorry crash near Warrington that led to a significant fuel spill on the carriageway.
The incident occurred when the lorry struck railings on a bridge on the A49 Newton Road, causing fuel to leak onto the motorway below. As a result, the M62 has been closed in both directions within junction 9, and the junction 8 eastbound entry slip road is also shut.
Cheshire Police said the motorway could remain closed for several hours. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
National Highways confirmed that traffic is being diverted via exit and entry slip roads. The agency is working to install a new barrier and repair damage caused by the fuel spill. No clear timeline has been provided for when the road will reopen.
Motorists are being advised to expect significant disruption. There are currently delays of up to 60 minutes eastbound and 20 minutes westbound, with congestion building in both directions.
Drivers are urged to avoid the area if possible and allow extra time for journeys while the clean-up and repairs continue.
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A view shows Air India flight AI 379 that had to make an emergency landing back at Phuket Airport, due to a note of a bomb threat discovered mid-air, in Phuket, Thailand, June 13, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)
AN AIR INDIA flight from Phuket, Thailand to New Delhi returned to the Thai island on Friday after a bomb threat was discovered on board, according to Thailand’s airports authority.
The flight had taken off from Phuket and was en route to India when the pilot reported a possible threat and made an emergency landing.
Airports of Thailand stated on its Phuket Facebook page that the pilot of the Airbus A320 informed air traffic control after a message indicating a bomb threat was found inside the aircraft.
"We received a report of a bomb threat written inside the aircraft's bathroom, so the pilot informed the control tower and decided to divert the flight to Phuket International Airport after circling to burn off fuel," said Monchai Tanode, director of Phuket International Airport, at a press conference.
"Police have brought in several suspects, but have not yet been able to identify who wrote the message," Monchai added.
According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, the aircraft made a U-turn over the Andaman Sea shortly after takeoff, then circled repeatedly off Phuket’s coast before landing back at the airport.
The website showed that the flight departed again at 4:28 pm (0928 GMT), more than seven hours after its scheduled departure.
The incident took place a day after another Air India flight, bound for London, crashed in Ahmedabad, killing at least 265 people both on board and on the ground.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Debris of Air India flight 171 is pictured after it crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad on June 13, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)
INVESTIGATORS have recovered the black box from the site of Thursday’s Air India crash in Ahmedabad, where a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London’s Gatwick airport went down shortly after takeoff, killing at least 265 people, including those on the ground.
The aircraft issued a mayday call shortly before crashing into a residential area around lunchtime. The plane had barely lifted 100 metres from the ground before it came down, with its tailpiece left protruding from the second floor of a hostel for medical staff from a nearby hospital.
Air India said the flight carried 242 people, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, one Canadian and 12 crew members. According to police, 265 bodies have been counted so far, including at least 24 on the ground. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise as more remains are recovered.
Deputy commissioner of police Kanan Desai confirmed the body count on Friday. Home Minister Amit Shah said in a statement that the official death toll would be announced after DNA testing is completed. Samples will also be collected from family members living abroad, he added.
A formal investigation has been launched by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said. The probe will follow International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) protocols. He said a high-level committee comprising experts from multiple disciplines was also being set up to examine the incident and improve aviation safety.
Visited the crash site in Ahmedabad today. The scene of devastation is saddening. Met officials and teams working tirelessly in the aftermath. Our thoughts remain with those who lost their loved ones in this unimaginable tragedy. pic.twitter.com/R7PPGGo6Lj — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 13, 2025
Prime minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site on Friday and met survivor Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, at the hospital. Ramesh, who was injured in the crash, said, “Initially, I too thought that I was about to die, but then I opened my eyes and realised that I was still alive.”
“Everything happened in front of me, and even I couldn’t believe how I managed to come out alive from that,” he added. “Within a minute after takeoff, suddenly... it felt like something got stuck... I realised something had happened, and then suddenly the plane’s green and white lights turned on.”
Eyewitnesses said the nose and front wheel of the aircraft landed on a canteen where students were having lunch. Search and rescue teams worked through the night to locate the black box flight recorders, which are expected to provide vital information about the plane’s final moments.
The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch has offered assistance to India, and the US National Transportation Safety Board will also help with the investigation. Boeing said it was supporting Air India and was “working to gather more information” on the crash.