Kaliph Anaz looks into the electoral scenario in London. British Asian voters constitute about 20 per cent of the electorate. Their votes are crucial for any party’s victory
London, the commercial capital of the world, is going to poll tomorrow. British-Asians constitute about 18.4 per cent of the population in London and their votes are crucial for victory.
According to the 2011 Census, 44.9% of London’s residents are White British. London is one of the few places in the UK in which White Britons comprise less than half of the total population. 37% of the population were born outside the UK, including 24.5% born outside of Europe.]
Every seat in all 32 London boroughs – more than 1,800 in total – is up for grabs on Thursday. This has not happened since the day of the general election in 2010, when Labour bucked the national trend by getting 36.4% of the vote to the Conservatives 34.5%.
Ed Miliband’s party lost to Boris Johnson in the 2012 mayoral contest. They will be looking to avenge that and show they are on the road to Downing Street.
The party is targeting Tory-controlled outer London boroughs such as Croydon and Barnet. Hammersmith and Fulham – a flagship Tory council – would be the ultimate prize but David Cameron’s party will be fighting hard to retain it. Mayoral elections are also taking place in Hackney, Lewisham, Newham – all with Labour incumbents seeking their fourth consecutive term – and Tower Hamlets, where controversial independent mayor Lutfur Rahman is battling to retain power. Lib Dem Dorothy Thornhill is fighting to remain mayor of Watford.