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Kerala-born nurse Sojan Joseph elected to UK Parliament
Sojan Joseph's election comes as part of a sweeping victory for the Labour Party in the recent UK general elections, ending the Conservative Party's 14-year rule.
Sojan Joseph / Image- X (@sojanuk)
A nurse from Kerala named Sojan Joseph has created history by becoming the first Labour MP for the Ashford constituency in Kent, UK. Joseph's election comes as part of a sweeping victory for the Labour Party in the recent UK general elections, ending the Conservative Party's 14-year rule.
Sojan Joseph, 49, was able to secure his position by defeating Conservative Party veteran Damien Green. This victory is particularly historic as Joseph is the first Labour candidate to win the Ashford seat in its 139-year history.
Joseph expressed his gratitude in a post on X, following his election, "Thank you for the honour of being elected as the first Labour MP of Ashford constituency. I am humbled with the trust you all placed in me and fully aware of the responsibilities that come with it. I will work hard for everyone in Ashford, Hawkinge, and villages. Thank you to all in the Labour Family and the Campaign Team for their support."
Thank you for the honour of being elected as the first Labour MP of Ashford constituency. I am humbled with the trust you all placed in me and fully aware of the responsibilities comes with it. I will work hard for everyone in Ashford, Hawkinge and villages.
— Cllr Sojan Joseph (@sojanuk) July 5, 2024
Thank you to all in… pic.twitter.com/Uwd2zzkzBg
Joseph, who hails from Kaipuzha in Kerala’s Kottayam district, has lived in the UK since 2002, working as a mental health nurse in Kent's National Health Service. His election to Parliament marks a significant achievement for the Indian-origin community in the UK, with 26 Indian-origin MPs now serving in the House of Commons.
The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, who is set to become the new Prime Minister, celebrated a landslide victory, marking the end of Rishi Sunak's tenure as Prime Minister.
Back in Kerala, Joseph's family celebrated the news with immense pride and joy. His father, KT Joseph, along with his sisters and other relatives, expressed their happiness and shared their excitement about his achievement. “I am very happy. A Malayalee went there and won. He calls home every day,” his father told the media. He lives in Kent with his wife, Brita, also a nurse from Kerala, and their three children.
29 Indian-origin MPs elected
Joseph joins 26 other Indian-origin MPs in the House of Commons, reflecting the growing influence of the Indian diaspora in UK politics.
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