Tulip, Rushanara, Rupa win big for Labour in UK polls

Labour Party's Tulip Siddiq has secured a major victory in her constituency in north-west London.

Toufique Imrose Khalidibdnews24.com
Published : 9 June 2017, 04:01 AM
Updated : 9 June 2017, 02:10 PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's niece, Tulip polled 34,464 against her Conservative rival's 18,904 in Hampstead and Kilburn.

"I will be Hampstead and Kilburn's voice in Westminster, not Westminster's voice in Hampstead and Kilburn," she said.

Rushanara Ali, another Labour candidate of Bangladeshi origin, won Bethnal Green and Bow with 42,969 votes, beating her Conservative rival who secured more than 7,000 votes. Ajmal Masroor, an independent candidate of Bangladesh origin, finished the race with a paltry 3,880.

Rupa Huq, an academic of Bangladesh origin, also returned to parliament with a huge victory.

Photo: Syed Nahas Pasha, UK Correspondent

 

Rupa got 33,037 votes while her Conservative rival could manage only 19,272 in west London's Ealing Central and Acton constituency. The win widens her majority to a staggering 13,765 from a paltry 274 just two years ago.

Votes were still being counted in the snap election called seven weeks ago, with fears of a potential deadlock and a "hung parliament".

Photo: Syed Nahas Pasha, UK Correspondent

With 649 of 650 seats declared, the Conservatives had won 318 seats and Labour 261.

Photo: Syed Nahas Pasha, UK Correspondent

 

Tulip had resigned as a shadow minister in January to 'counter Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit from backbenches' after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn decided to back legislation paving the way for the UK's departure from the EU.

After her victory in the snap elections, Tulip said she will keep an eye on Brexit negotiations due to start in just over a week.

Photo: Syed Nahas Pasha, UK Correspondent

 

Daughter of Sheikh Rehana, she was first elected to represent the constituency in the general election of May 2015.

Photo: Syed Nahas Pasha, UK Correspondent

Born in 1982, she studied English Literature for her Bachelor's and Master's at University College of London and politics and policy for a second Master's at King's College.