Finally, a long-cherished dream of British Bangladeshis has come true! MP Rushanara Ali and MP Tulip Siddiq have been appointed as junior ministers in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet. The community is rejoicing. This achievement marks a positive milestone for the Bangladeshi community, even though it could have happened many years ago. However, the saying “self-destructive Bengali” isn’t entirely false, as internal conflicts delayed this achievement for many years. A new day has dawned, and now it’s time to move forward.

The opportunity first arose in 1997, right after Lord Peter Shore, a friend of the Bengali and Bangladeshi community, stepped down. Yet, due to self-destructive tendencies, this chance was lost for a long time. In British politics, it is often observed that male politicians tend to consider themselves more important than their parties and would cut off their own noses to spite others. Women, on the other hand, are advancing in politics. Their participation will increase in the future, and we will see more women of Bangladeshi descent in the next Parliament.

The community’s connection with the new government will strengthen through these two ministers. By leveraging these connections and opportunities, the community will progress and benefit further. Participation in mainstream politics will increase. Male politicians, too, will rise above narrow-mindedness and unite the community, avoiding all kinds of deviations, especially those that create divisions based on religious identity.

This time, a record number of women have been elected to the British Parliament! Out of 650 seats, 263 MPs are women, which is 40.5%, and 189 of them are from the Labour Party. In this Labour government’s cabinet, 11 women have become full ministers (Secretaries of State).

According to the tradition of the British Parliament, this time the title of “Mother of Parliament” has been bestowed upon Diana Abbott. As a British MP of Jamaican descent, she was first elected in 1987 and has been re-elected this time, marking the longest tenure (35 years) among women MPs.

The first female MP in Britain was Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor, an American-born Conservative politician, who served from 1919 to 1945.

More than half of the MPs in the 650-member Parliament have been elected for the first time. A maverick MP from the Conservative Party has been elected from the anti-immigration Reform UK Party. Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform UK Party, along with four other MPs, has secured a parliamentary seat for the first time, which is alarming. The rise of this right-wing political force is one of the reasons for the Conservative debacle.

This Parliament is diverse in many ways. The new political trend is expected to lead to prosperity, reflecting the multicultural British society-state that everyone hopes for. The British Parliament is often referred to as the “Mother of Parliaments.”

The people who voted Labour into power are now waiting to see how well the Labour government can meet their expectations. Initially, it appears that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is willing to work for the overall welfare of the British people and the country with everyone involved. He has buried the highly controversial Rwanda policy, formed an all-party Royal Commission to address healthcare issues, and prioritized education, housing, and the energy sector. How much of this will be accomplished remains to be seen.

The final football match is at eight tonight (even though it will still be light outside). England and Spain will face off in the battle for the title. Will Team England once again miss out on an international title, like a boat sinking near the shore? We are all hopeful for a championship victory. Football fans are eagerly and anxiously waiting to celebrate the victory.

My daughters are also eagerly waiting to watch the game and celebrate.

“May the night be composed by your hand.” Just like the lyrics of this song, let the dawn of a new day and a new path of hope begin with Rushanara Ali and Tulip Siddiq. We must stand firmly for the progress of the community and against narrow-mindedness and communalism.

As we look forward to these promising developments, let us remain united and dedicated to the collective progress of our community, ensuring that this new dawn truly brings about lasting change and prosperity for all.

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Author: Nurur Rahim Noman, Ex-Headteacher