In a historic move, Vaughan Gething has been elected as the new leader of Wales, marking a significant moment in the United Kingdom’s political landscape. For the first time, none of the four main governments in the U.K. is headed by a white man. This development is especially noteworthy in a nation that continues to confront issues of racism and its colonial past.
Rishi Sunak, with his Indian heritage, serves as Britain’s first Hindu Prime Minister. Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf, hails from a Pakistani Muslim family and leads a semi-autonomous government, similar to Gething. In Northern Ireland, the regional administration is co-led by two women, Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly. Gething, whose heritage includes a Welsh father and a Zambian mother, emphasized the significance of his election as the first Black leader of the governing Welsh Labour Party. He views it as a pivotal moment in the nation’s history, one that is collectively written.
The political scene in Britain has rapidly evolved. Until 2002, the country had not seen a non-white Cabinet minister. Sunak often highlights the diversity of his Cabinet, which is considered one of the most varied in British history. It includes prominent figures such as Home Secretary James Cleverly and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, who are Black, and Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho, of Indian descent.
Sunak expressed pride in being the first British Asian prime minister at last year’s Conservative Party conference. He took greater pride in the fact that his ethnicity was not a major issue. This reflects years of effort by the center-right party to diversify its image and encourage people of color to pursue parliamentary careers. Sunder Katwala, head of the equality think-tank British Future, noted that ethnic diversity at the top levels of government has become the new norm. However, critics argue that this increase in diversity has not been matched by policies aimed at reducing broader social inequalities.
Some accuse Sunak’s government of using race as a divisive issue, especially during an election year when the Conservatives are trailing behind Labour in polls. Controversial figures like former Home Secretary Suella Braverman have been criticized for their divisive rhetoric. Samuel Kasumu, a former government adviser, emphasized that addressing racism and discrimination requires character and leadership, qualities he believes are currently lacking.
Recent allegations of racism within the Conservative Party have drawn attention. Sunak suspended a senior lawmaker for making Islamophobic remarks about London’s Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan. Despite these incidents, Sunak has denied that the party has an Islamophobia problem. He also condemned racist comments made by a party donor about a Black female politician but has faced criticism for not returning the donor’s contributions.
The U.K.’s diversity and divisions are deeply rooted in its imperial history. Approximately 18% of the population is non-white, with many people tracing their ancestry back to former British colonies. The debate on how to address and reconcile with this legacy remains contentious. In recent years, institutions like the Church of England have begun to confront their historical involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Tony Sewell, who led a commission on race disparities, argued that race is no longer the primary determinant of success or failure in Britain. He believes that factors such as class, geography, and family structure are more influential. However, critics of Sewell’s report argue that it downplays the ongoing issue of racism, pointing to disparities in poverty and health outcomes among ethnic minorities.
This moment in British politics reflects a complex interplay of progress and ongoing challenges. While the diversity of the U.K.’s leadership is celebrated, the nation continues to grapple with issues of inequality and racism.