Nominations recently closed on the Conservative leadership election, and the candidates who advanced into the contest represented a record-breaking field in terms of diversity.
Of the 8 advancing candidates, half are BAME, more than all past leadership elections combined. This represents a broader trend within the Conservative party for the growing diversity of its representation at Westminster. Since 2010 the party has made an effort to increase the number of BAME MPs elected, which has led to the current group of Conservative MPS being the most diverse ever.
The diversity of this leadership contest has received global attention, with the Washington Post remarking:
“The diversification of the Conservative Party is a good thing for both Tories and the UK. It’s obviously good for the party because it provides it with a stream of talent while also increasing its appeal to other minorities (and White liberals). But it’s also good for the country because it prevents politics from polarizing along racial lines — and also because it prevents the left from having a monopoly on questions such as assimilation and diversity”.
Representation lies at the heart of the British political system. Since legislation is debated and passed by political representatives of constituencies, it is vital that these representatives reflect the nature of British society, in order to widen the scope of ideas being presented in parliament. This leadership should help place a spotlight over the views of Conservative BAME voters in the nation, a demographic which has been historically overlooked yet one which is of great importance.
Furthermore, with BAME Conservative MPs now at the forefront of the party, they have the opportunity to inspire others into following a career in politics, which still struggles to overcome stereotypes and racism. While the current diverse leadership contest has been a product of hard work in the past, it promises greater diversity and inspiration in the future.