Diverse by Design: Record Levels of Diversity in UK Parliament Reflect Years of Targeted Efforts

Parliament sees unprecedented diversity – a result of deliberate actions

An unprecedented influx of new MPs is joining the House of Commons, but that's not the only milestone achieved. This new assembly includes a significant increase in representatives from various ethnic backgrounds and a large number of women.

Data journalist @saywhatsaywah

Monday, July 15, 2024, 07:

Over half of the members in the newly formed parliament are first-time MPs, enhancing the House of Commons' representation of the country's diverse population.

Having over half of the Members of Parliament being newcomers to the Commons presents both advantages and challenges.

"Importantly, this means we'll see newcomers embarking on their careers, bringing fresh perspectives on important matters," stated Dr. Sofía Collignon, who teaches comparative politics at Queen Mary University of London as a senior lecturer.

"An unprecedented number of individuals will need to undergo training, which will include familiarizing themselves with parliamentary processes as well as the explicit and implicit rules of functioning within parliament. These unspoken rules are typically learned on the job, through firsthand experience," Dr. Collignon explained.

The representation of various demographic groups in parliament didn't happen overnight; it’s the result of a deliberate, long-term strategy aimed at boosting the participation of minority members in legislative roles.

"Dr. Collignon emphasized the success of the Labour Party's initiatives to enlist a broader, more diverse range of candidates, particularly women."

In his inaugural address to the House of Commons as prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer celebrated the creation of the "most racially and gender-diverse parliament" to date.

Currently, women constitute over 40% of the members in the House of Commons. Although this figure does not completely mirror the gender distribution in the UK, it marks a significant increase from 30% in the 2015 election and a drastic rise from the mere 0.7% of female MPs a century ago.

With a representation of 14%, equivalent to 90 Members of Parliament, the diversity within the Commons more accurately mirrors Britain's ethnically diverse population, which stands at 17%.

The number has surged to almost 23 times the total from 1987, when four Members of Parliament were elected, among them Dianne Abbott, the inaugural black female MP.

This parliament also boasts a wide representation in terms of sexual orientations and gender identities.

Sixty-four members of Parliament currently self-identify as LGBTQ+, marking a record for the beginning of a parliamentary term. However, this figure has fluctuated, reaching as high as 68 at the time Rishi Sunak announced the election.

Among the newly elected Members of Parliament is Carla Denyer, the co-leader of the Green Party, who identifies as either bisexual or pansexual. Additionally, she is one of at least six members who follow the Quaker faith in this current parliament.

There's a noticeable shift in the educational profiles of politicians, with fewer having attended private schools.

In the recently formed cabinet under Sir Keir, among the 25 members, only Louise Haigh and Sir Keir attended a private and a grammar school respectively.

The Labour Party typically has fewer Members of Parliament who received private education.

Of the members, 23 (92%) attended public schools, a significant increase from the 19% seen in the cabinets of Mr. Sunak and Liz Truss.

Currently, 46% of Conservative MPs were educated in private schools, which is a decrease of eight percentage points from when David Cameron was elected, and 16 percentage points less than during John Major's 1992 election.

The representation of MPs who attended private schools within major political parties is on the decline, yet it still far exceeds the ratio found in the general school-going population of the UK. Presently, 23% of MPs have a private education background, whereas only 7% of current students share this educational experience.

The recent changes in the House of Commons have resulted in a notably younger and more diverse assembly, potentially benefiting all involved.

"Overall, there's a trend toward younger candidates in this election. The Labour Party, which secured the most seats, has contributed to this shift, making for a younger parliament," Dr. Collignon explained.

"She emphasized the need for superior policies, which can only be developed through inputs and insights from individuals of diverse backgrounds and experiences. Achieving this, she noted, requires a more representative parliament to ensure more effective representation on critical matters."

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