Lords not inclusive enough says Sikh peer

Lord Sahota was Telford and Wrekin Council leader from 2011 to 2015

A Sikh peer has said that the House of Lords is not inclusive enough and should better represent British society.

Lord Sahota, who was born in India and moved to Telford in the 1960s, was appointed a Baron in November 2022.

A 2019 report suggested that about 6% of members in the House of Lords came from a minority ethnic background.

This compared with 13% of the UK population, based on the 2011 census.

Kuldip Sahota had been a Labour councillor on Telford and Wrekin Council for 22 years when he was nominated for a peerage by Sir Keir Starmer in the 2022 Special Honours.

Lord and Lady Sahota attended the King's first State Opening of Parliament

"When I look around the chamber it doesn't quite represent society as a whole," Lord Sahota told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"I think there should be more [ethnic diversity]."

The 72-year-old said he did not feel like he belonged during his first few months in Westminster, but said peers from all political parties had been very welcoming.

"Everybody feels imposter syndrome, that one day I'm going to get caught out because I'm not supposed to be here due to my background," he said.

"The longer I was there I gained the confidence and I can stand up and challenge and ask the difficult questions."

The House of Lords is the unelected second chamber of UK Parliament and its role is to examine proposed laws, question government action and investigate public policy.

Parliamentary research suggests that changes to the overall diversity of the House of Lords "can be slow" because Members are appointed for life and retirement is only a recent possibility.

However, ethnic diversity in the upper house has more than doubled from 2.6% in 2001 to 6% in 2019, according to the same document.

Kuldip Sahota has described himself as "Telford through and through"

When not at Westminster, Lord Sahota can often be found clearing tables and serving food in his wife's cafe at Wellington Indoor Market.

He has lived in the borough for almost 60 years and worked in a local factory before going into business and politics.

In May 2023 he decided not to stand in council elections so he could concentrate on his role in the House of Lords.