‘Indians lean towards Tories’
SURVEY SHOWS LOSS OF LABOUR APPEAL AND VOTING PATTERN CHANGE SINCE 2019
A NEW study has revealed a shift in voting patterns among British Indians from Labour in 2019 towards the Conservative party in 2021.
Research by the 1928 Institute, a University of Oxford-backed think-tank, also said only eight per cent of British Indians feel “accurately represented” by policymakers.
It further pointed out that younger voters are more inclined to vote Conservative, despite previously supporting Labour.
An analysis of over 2,300 British Indians found that despite the majority (36 per cent) voting Labour in the 2019 general elections, the 2021 local elections would see a shift, with the group showing support for the Tories (33 per cent) and Labour falling behind at 31 per cent.
The study, conducted between August and December 2020, revealed that the most sizeable change in voting preference was from those aged between 21 and 50 years, with 45.9 per cent respondents moving away from Labour. It would result in the Tories picking up the majority of these voters (48.8 per cent).
“The journey of Indians in the UK has been a fascinating one, marked with bringing great culture and value to these shores. I’m proud to see a new generation of young British Indians rising to the challenge to create the first think-tank to research and represent the community,” said Baroness Sandip Verma, chair, UN Women (UK).
“This report provides a unique insight into many previously unexplored areas. These detailed evidence-based recommendations provide a strong foundation for engagement in seeking to ensure more is done to tackle anti-Indian prejudice and to explore the contemporary impacts of colonialism.”
According to the report, British Indians were more likely to vote Labour across most regions in August 2020, except Scotland, where the Conservatives
took the lead. It highlighted the fact that the manifesto of the SNP did not align with the political needs and wants of British Indians.
The regions with the narrowest difference in support between the Labour and Conservative parties are the east of England (four per cent), followed by Greater London (six per cent) and the south-east (eight per cent), the study said.
“In December 2020, the majority of British Indians were inclined to vote for the Conservative party, although Labour retained support in the north-west, south-east, West Midlands. British Indians across Yorkshire and Humber are inclined to the Conservative and Labour parties equally (35 per cent respectively). In addition, in the south-west, the Liberal Democrats emerged as the strongest party,” the study added.
Many respondents said British Indians were not vocal about their needs and instead focused on settling into their communities. As a result, many feel that current and future generations will continue to be “overlooked”.
British Indians wanted the government to give priority to education (54 per cent), health (52 per cent), environment and climate change (44 per cent), domestic poverty (36 per cent), and equalities and human rights (33 per cent), as those aligned with their cultural values of giving back to society, or “seva”, along with the importance of taking care of the vulnerable.
They feel that black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) is not a useful concept as it incorrectly informs the distribution of resources and identity, the study further said.
Four in five British Indians (84 per cent) also wanted the government to prioritise tackling racism and colonialism. They stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement calling for resources and capital to promote equality and human rights across all ethnic minorities.