“Three MP’s were retiring and I was applying for their seats, they were saying to me …. effectively you are not going to get it because your face doesn’t fit…….so I went to the selection committee in this constituency and made a joke of it saying I hear you’re not going to pick me because I’m not a white middle class male ….. …..”

This was the experience of one Asian wannabe MP. Ali Miraj failed to get in as an MP in two previous General Elections he then faced further hurdles in trying to get selected for a safe seat.
But his not alone, according to academic Nasar Meer parties across the board are reluctant to put up ethnic minority candidates in safe winnable.

Furthermore, he believes in the current climate it’s highly unlikely we will see a ethnic minority Prime Minister some time soon and says it’s even more implausible that we’ll see a Muslim Prime Minister.

Currently, only two-per-cent of MPs are from an ethnic background – that is only 15 from a total of 646 currently in Parliament.

If Parliament is to truly reflect the face of modern Britain we should have at least 50 Asian and Black Mp’s
At the current rate of change it could take 75 years to get anywhere near this…..so what are the chances of Britain ever getting its own Asian Prime Minister?

Ayesha Hazarika, who was a stand up comedienne but now works as a special advisor to Harriet Harman, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party believes it’s never been better to get involved in politics but is her optimism a reality?


Producer : Chloe Fairweather
Series Producer : Perminder Khatkar