Elections are about much more than the polls, the votes, or even the result. After 4 July, the new Prime Minister will inherit a complex set of practical policy challenges. These specific problems compound broader issues such as stagnant productivity, slow growth, huge NHS waiting lists, chronic underinvestment, unresolved immigration system problems, and an unsatisfactory relationship with the European Union for many businesses and voters.
The next resident of 10 Downing Street will have much to ponder in addressing these and other issues. Subsequent policy choices can reshape the country, as public policy directly impacts all of us. Understanding the full implications of an election requires more than just knowing who votes for whom and why.
Labour is approaching this election under the banner of a one-word slogan: "Change" and while the polls suggest a change of party and personnel, there is little indication of a massive shift in policy. Neither Labour nor Conservatives are being straightforward with the electorate about some of the trade-offs we will have to confront. Whether the aim is to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2030 (Conservatives) or when economic circumstances allow (Labour), something will have to give, but it remains unclear what that something will be.
Promises need to be scrutinised, and claims subjected to rigorous analysis. Political engagement and informed voting are crucial, as every vote will count and influence the country's future direction. This is especially important for minorities, as they often face the brunt of the problems confronting the country. Understanding what is offered and demanding what is needed is crucial for ensuring that their voices are heard and their concerns addressed.
Empowering minority women
Women constitute a minority community, and ethnic minority women form an even smaller niche of minority within the minorities. The lived experiences of these women are not always represented and reflected in government policies, with one of the grimmest aspects being Honour Based Abuse (HBA). HBA is a silent epidemic, often overlooked in governmental strategies and remains underrepresented in official initiatives to combat violence against women and girls. In response, charities and organisations supporting the victims of such circumstances have united to demand change from the incoming government through the ‘HBA’ General Election manifesto.
This manifesto calls for a comprehensive approach to tackle HBA, focusing on three key areas: establishing a statutory definition and guidance, securing ring-fenced funding for HBA specialist services, and ensuring stronger governmental accountability. It is imperative that the next government addresses these issues with urgency and commitment. Failure to act swiftly not only perpetuates harm but also actively contributes to it.
The Sharan Project is one of the organisations that have contributed to this manifesto. Polly Harrar, Chief Executive at the organisation, in a statement to Asian Voice said, “Honour-based abused is an issue that affects countless South Asian women and there needs to be greater awareness to report this abuse and to seek support from organisations such as the Sharan Project.
“We have released an honour-based abuse manifesto, calling for a statutory definition and guidance, ring fenced long term funding for charities like ours who are working tirelessly on the front line and to establish a cross governmental honour-based abuse task force to ensure accountability of the government's commitment to tackle this abuse.
“For far too long victims and survivors have been failed by a system that does not recognise or understand honour-based abuse and 'by and for' services are being starved of funding, resulting in many specialist services closing down. We have already seen a number of high-profile cases where South Asian women are killed due to notions of honour, a statutory definition would go some way to ensure victims and survivors get the help they need before it is too late.
“We believe the voices of racially marginalised victims and survivors deserve to be heard and 'by and for' charities should be sustainably funded as we are better placed to understand cultural needs and the complex support required. The time for lip service and empty promises needs to end and the incoming Government needs to start listening and to take positive action before it is too late.”
Push for inclusive growth
The working class across the country is grappling with significant challenges due to the cost-of-living crisis and inflation, which are impacting their quality of life. Despite working tirelessly to support their families, their efforts often fail to meet their needs as expenses outpace income. This disparity affects minorities disproportionately, particularly communities such as Bangladeshi and Pakistani.
Mohammed Ali OBE is the Founder and Chief Executive of the QED Foundation, an organisation dedicated to supporting ethnic minorities in finding jobs and advancing their careers. According to Mr Ali, while the discussions around "levelling up" in the run-up to this election focus almost exclusively on geographical inequality, this approach could benefit Pakistanis to some extent, as they are three times more likely to live in the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods compared to white British people.
However, he highlights that the community faces many other significant challenges. He states, “These communities also face multiple entrenched disadvantages based on their ethnicity, nationality, and faith. Members are more likely to be out of work or in insecure, low-paid employment, and levels of child poverty are way above average.”
Mr Ali hopes that the incoming government will commit to a broader definition of levelling up that includes removing barriers holding back all disadvantaged ethnic minority groups. He emphasises the need for private, public, and third-sector organisations to change their staff recruitment and retention policies to ensure Pakistanis are represented across various sectors and at all levels.
He adds, “It involves examining why our young people, despite closing the gap in educational attainment relative to other ethnic groups, still struggle to translate their achievements into career success and fostering trust and dialogue with public services like the police.”
Mr Ali also underscores the essential need to address the stark health inequalities faced by Pakistanis. He advocates for a holistic approach to healthcare that acknowledges the subtle interplay between an individual’s socioeconomic circumstances and cultural background, significantly affecting wellbeing.
Ishwer Tailor MBE has been the President of the Gujarat Hindu Society and has served as a local magistrate on the Preston bench for 29 years, He feels that whoever comes into power must address the concerns of ethnic minorities, as the goalposts for racial equality have shifted repeatedly.
Sharing his opinion on what is the result of the current political race can be, he said, “I don't think it's easy this time around to simply decide to vote for Labour or Conservative. From my perspective, it looks like we might end up with a hung parliament. Neither Labour nor the Conservatives are likely to get a majority. There's talk that Labour will achieve a majority, but we'll only know for sure on election day. It's a concerning situation for Britain, especially as it’s supposed to be a world leader in many aspects.”
He further added, “For retirees like me, and for the younger generation managing mortgages and university expenses for their children, adjustments are necessary during tough times. The Asian community has always been entrepreneurial, focusing on self-employment and business ventures to ensure survival. This community has significantly contributed to the economy, being among the highest taxpayers.
“Whichever party comes to power will face significant challenges, primarily due to economic concerns. If the economy doesn’t thrive, nothing else will. If Labour comes into power, the unions will likely push harder, causing more disruptions. The union stranglehold, with strikes by junior doctors and teachers, will also intensify.”
While Mr Tailor feels that the needs of the ethnic minorities need to be highlighted, Ram Gupta, a businessman from Blackburn, feels that once you're integrated into society, even if you belong to a minority, issues affecting everyone impact you equally. By identifying solely as a minority community, you're emphasising differences between various ethnic backgrounds of people who come to this country.
Addressing the fact that just slightly over 50 per cent voters exercise their rights, he shares, “The widespread disenchantment with British politics has led to a dismally low voter turnout. This has resulted in certain communities with high voter turnout significantly influencing election outcomes, even if they constitute a minority.
“Many people in the UK are disheartened with politics because they feel politicians no longer deserve their votes due to a perceived lack of representation.”
He also feels that while the efforts of political leaders towards ethnic minorities have been genuine, the treatment of the first Indian origin Prime Minister of the country does not reflect kindly. “Rishi Sunak became the Prime Minister when no other candidates were suitable. His ethnicity has brought more visibility to his leadership, which also means he faces more scrutiny.
“When Sunak fails, it often reinforces biases because he came into office by default rather than popular choice. His own party has treated him poorly. For instance, when he announced the election in pouring rain, or was poorly advised from his party which led to public embarrassment during the Veterans’ Day event, highlight underlying resistance.
“People notice Sunak's skin colour first and are less forgiving compared to a white leader. As a community, we should improve in celebrating diversity. The Indian community has enriched the UK's cultural scene and yet, accepting the success of an Asian origin Prime Minister remains a challenge for some. This reluctance is reflected in shifting voting patterns, with some supporting alternative parties like Reform UK for the wrong reasons. Despite cultural strides, there's still difficulty accepting Asian leaders' success in politics.”
Taking the matter into our hands
While discontent brews within the community, whether regarding the resolution of issues or the acceptance of diverse leadership, political parties and leaders we have engaged with have avoided addressing why the needs of the ethnic minorities remain neglected and engagement with them minimum. Even the Prime Minister sidestepped the question (see p13).
Except token visits to places of worship, community centres, politicians are not seen engaging with the community, though it remains one sided through speeches, with no scopes of questions answered from the community.
Recognising the crucial need to amplify the concerns of the diaspora and demand clear responses from involved parties, Asian Voice, in collaboration with the City Hindus Network and the City Sikhs, is organising the UK’s inaugural national political hustings for the Asian community during the 2024 general elections on Friday 28 June, 6:30pm onwards at Taj. This remains a huge opportunity for the community to interact with main party representatives to answer their questions and doubt cleared. If you wish to attend, RSVP to [email protected].
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The need to prioritise NHS and health care workers
Whoever assumes government after the upcoming general election, one of their biggest challenges remain UK’s broken healthcare system.
According to Rohit Sagoo, Founder and Director of British Sikh Nurses, NHS faces major challenges, including workforce shortages, funding constraints, and ageing infrastructure. The long-term commitments by the Conservative and Labour parties, such as the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and the 40 New Hospital Programme, limit flexibility in future budgets. The Liberal Democrats' pledge to increase the public health grant by £1 billion aims to prioritise prevention despite their slim chances of forming a majority government.
“While the manifestos offer practical solutions like investing in out-of-hospital services and revising the NHS budget impact test, they are less ambitious in overall spending compared to previous years, reflecting a cautious approach to NHS reform”, Sagoo said.
With the shortage of nurses in the country, the NHS staff is stretched thin. Describing the effect of this on British Asian nurses, Rohit pointed out the impact of immigration policies on the sector. “Exacerbated by restrictive immigration policies, the shortage of nurses is severely impacting British Asian nurses. Many, especially from India and the Philippines, who comprise most overseas-trained nurses, are crucial to the NHS. The new immigration policies hinder the recruitment and retention of these essential workers.
“The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan aims to increase UK-trained nurses and reduce dependency on international recruits. However, the focus on inflows overlooks the significant outflow of nurses. Retaining international nurses is critical to alleviate the strain on the workforce and ensure the delivery of essential healthcare services. However, we need to expand and raise awareness of the nursing and midwifery profession for British-born South Asians to encourage them to join the profession.”
He feels that while not entirely ignored, the needs of minority communities may not be receiving the focused attention they require in the election campaigns.
