Britain elects its first female Sikh MP in Birmingham
The first female Sikh MP has been elected to the Houses of Parliament.
Preet Gill held the Birmingham, Edgbaston seat for Labour with 24,124 votes – for a majority of 6,917.
Conservative Caroline Squire polled 17,207 votes. The previous MP, Gisela Stuart, stepped down when the election was called.
Ms Gill said, ‘It’s a real honour to be representing the people and the place where I was born and raised.
GENERAL ELECTION 2017 LIVE BLOG: Rolling updates
MORE: Election result could see UK backtrack on Brexit – David Davis
MORE: Sterling swings as markets react to hung Parliament
MORE: Theresa May ‘I’m staying’
‘We’ve had a really strong campaign, a really good team of people here in Edgbaston and it’s just been phenomenal.’
With no party able to secure an overall majority in the snap general election, the nation watched as Theresa May attempted to strike a deal to retain power in Westminster.
The surprise result led to calls for a reform of Britain’s first-past-the-post electoral system.
Bhai Amrik Singh, chair of the Sikh Federation, said: ‘We are delighted to have the first Sikh woman MP in Preet Kaur Gill in Birmingham, Edgbaston.
‘She will be a fantastic MP, a credit to the Sikh community and an excellent role model