Diversity by Design: UK’s Parliament Reflects Purposeful Efforts Toward Inclusion

Parliament sees unprecedented diversity, a result of deliberate actions

An unprecedented influx of new MPs is not the only milestone for the House of Commons. This new assembly includes a significant representation of individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds and a large number of women.

Data reporter @saywhatsaywah

Tuesday, July 16, 2024, 1:

Over half of the members in the newly formed parliament are first-time MPs, enhancing the House of Commons' representation of the national populace.

Introducing over half of the Members of Parliament as newcomers to the Commons brings both advantages and challenges.

"This is important because it introduces newcomers who are beginning their careers and brings in fresh perspectives on major issues," stated Dr. Sofía Collignon, a senior lecturer in comparative politics at Queen Mary University of London.

"An unprecedented number of individuals will need to undergo training, gaining familiarity not only with parliamentary processes but also with the explicit and implicit standards of parliamentary work. These implicit standards are typically acquired through hands-on experience," Dr. Collignon noted.

The varied representation among various groups in parliament did not occur overnight; it is the result of a deliberate, multi-year strategy aimed at supporting and elevating minority members to legislative positions.

"Dr. Collignon highlighted that the outcomes we are observing reflect the Labour Party's commitment to enlisting women and candidates from diverse backgrounds."

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

Women currently constitute over 40% of the members in the House of Commons. Although this does not completely reflect the gender makeup of the UK population, it represents a significant increase from 30% in the 2015 election and a substantial 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 among MPs in the Commons more closely mirrors Britain's ethnically diverse population, which stands at 17%.

The number has surged to almost 23 times more than the four members of Parliament who won their seats in 1987, among them Dianne Abbott, the inaugural black woman MP.

This parliament boasts significant diversity in sexual orientation and gender identity.

Currently, 64 Members of Parliament have publicly declared themselves as LGBTQ+, marking the highest number at the commencement of a parliament session. However, this figure has fluctuated, reaching as high as 68 at the time Rishi Sunak announced the election.

Among the elected Members of Parliament is Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, who identifies as either bisexual or pansexual. Additionally, she is one of no fewer than six Quakers who have secured seats in the current parliament.

The educational profiles of politicians are evolving. There has been a decline in the number of politicians who received their education at private institutions.

In the latest lineup of Sir Keir's cabinet, among the 25 members, only one attended a private school and another a grammar school – namely Louise Haigh and the Prime Minister himself.

Historically, the Labour Party has had a smaller proportion of Members of Parliament who received private education.

Out of the total, 23 individuals (92%) received their education from public schools, marking a significant increase from the 19% in the cabinets of Mr. Sunak and Liz Truss.

Showcasing Diversity – Uncertain Outcomes Await

Political Correspondent

The UK Parliament is now more representative of the country's diversity than at any previous time. When the King inaugurates the new session, the House of Commons will include a greater number of women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and members from various ethnic backgrounds. Importantly, an increased number of these MPs, including those on the front bench, have received their education from public schools.

Sir Keire Starmer has already hailed the "most diverse parliament in history" as a positive development, noting that when democratic bodies reflect the demographics of their constituencies, it enhances public confidence in those institutions.

Nonetheless, this trust is not absolute, and there is no guarantee that the public will receive policies that more effectively align with their needs.

For instance, despite the Conservative Party's efforts to increase the presence of women in its ranks under former Prime Minister David Cameron's leadership, this initiative did not garner increased backing from female constituents. While Cameron actively challenged local party groups to boost the number of female Members of Parliament, the actual support from women for the Tories has waned over recent years. Historically, women tended to favor the Conservatives over Labour, but the trend has reversed, with more women now leaning towards Labour.

It's not accurate to conclude that the political viewpoints of Members of Parliament are shaped solely by their basic identity traits, nor can we foresee how these traits have influenced their perspectives. For instance, in the past few years, the nation has seen three Home Secretaries of South Asian descent and a British Indian Prime Minister, along with both a Black Chancellor and a Black Business Secretary. Each of these officials has supported the Conservative government's stringent immigration policies.

Thus, although the new prime minister may applaud the evident diversity, the outcomes remain uncertain.

Presently, 46% of Conservative Members of Parliament have attended private schools. This figure represents a decrease of eight percentage points from the time David Cameron was elected, and a 16 percentage point drop from the 1992 election when John Major was in power.

The proportion of Members of Parliament who attended private schools has been on the decline across the major political parties, yet it still exceeds the percentage found in the general school-going population of the UK. Currently, 23% of MPs have a private education background, whereas only 7% of students currently in school share this trait.

The latest makeup of the House of Commons features a younger average age and greater diversity, potentially benefiting all involved.

"Overall, we're seeing a trend towards younger candidates. The Labour Party, having secured most of the seats, contributes significantly to this shift, leading to a younger parliament," Dr. Collignon noted.

"She emphasized the importance of incorporating diverse perspectives and experiences to formulate the best possible policies. Achieving this, she noted, requires a parliament that better reflects the variety of its constituents, thereby ensuring more effective representation on critical issues."

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