Tough race, but still hopeful

As many as 14 Bangladeshi-origin candidates are battling it out in the United Kingdom's general election with three sitting MPs - Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, Rushanara Ali and Rupa Huq – taking centre stage.

These three have been joined by 11 more hopefuls. Of the 14 candidates, eight including Tulip, Rushanara and Rupa are contesting as Labour Party candidates, one as a Liberal Democrat, one as a Friends Party nominee and 4 others as independent contenders.

During yesterday's election day, Tulip Siddiq released a statement stating that since becoming MP in 2015, she has spoken to thousands of residents about issues that are close to their hearts.

Tulip said she would fight for close links with Europe. She added that the worst thing "we can do is allow another Conservative MP into Westminster to deliver Theresa May's 'no deal'."

Tulip expressed her commitment to providing the strongest possible voice in scrutinising the Brexit process.

On the recent terror attacks, she said the horrors of the terrorist attacks in Manchester and London have meant grief, outrage and urgent recognition of the need to think about how "we tackle violent extremism and the need to ensure our emergency services are well resourced to respond."   

If re-elected, she promises to fight for a sustainable future for the NHS (National Health Service). 

“Above all else, a vote for me will be a vote for a strong, local voice. I will always listen to you before I act in Parliament,” Tulip Siddiq said.

Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, centre, out campaigning with her brother and sister. Photo: Star

RUSHANARA ALI

Rushanara Ali was first elected in May 2010 with a majority of 11,574, having defeated George Galloway's Respect Party.  Bethnal Green and Bow constituent in East London was one of four Labour gains in 2010.  Rushanara was re-elected in 2015, doubling her majority to 24,317 and earning 61% share of the vote. 

Between October 2010 and October 2013, she has served as the Shadow Minister for International Development. Rushanara Ali has previously served as a member of the Treasury Select Committee and the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee. In April 2016, Rushanara was appointed as the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Bangladesh.

TULIP SIDDIQ

Tulip Siddiq was the second candidate to contest and win at the last general election from the Labour Party in London's Hampstead and Kilburn area. Tulip Siddiq, the eldest daughter of Sheikh Rehana, was selected on 14 July 2013 as the Labour Party candidate for the highly marginal seat of North London's Hampstead and Kilburn for the 2015 general election.

In 2015, being the second Bengali woman to enter the UK Parliament she said, "I am of Bengali origin but the main thing is that I am a local girl, from a local constituency, and if I get into parliament, my main focus will be my constituency and the local residents.  I am proud of my roots but I did grow up in Hampstead and Kilburn, and that is the people I want to represent.  It doesn't matter where they are from, because we do have a multicultural society there.  Regardless of where they are from, I want to make sure their voices are heard."

RUPA HUQ

The third Bengali to enter parliament in 2015 was Rupa Huq from London Borough of Ealing which has been her home, and her family's home.

She said, "I have genuinely loved serving as MP since 2015. It's incredibly gratifying to help people out and change lives; no two days are the same. Over the past two years, I have dealt with more than 17,000 problems and issues brought to me by my constituents on diverse topics including the difficulties people face getting on the housing ladder to the way the Tories attempt to balance the books on the backs of society's most vulnerable."

Last year, the people of Ealing and Acton voted by 72% to remain in the European Union. Rupa Huq had said she would never vote for anything which would damage their livelihoods and living standards. Rupa Huq has been serving as a Shadow Home Affairs Minister. She secured a three-hour debate on the consequences of Brexit for overseas students.