By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave a comment 0comments Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/parliaments-newly-elected-lawmakers-are-most-diverse-in-british-history Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Parliament’s newly elected lawmakers are most diverse in British history World Dec 17, 2019 1:10 PM EDT LONDON — Following last week’s decisive election victory for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservatives, the U.K.’s new Parliament leans to the right and is decisively pro-Brexit. It’s also the most diverse group of lawmakers the country’s voters have elected. A look at some of the numbers in the House of Commons: 220: The number of female lawmakers, 12 more than were elected in the last election in 2017. Women now occupy one-third of all 650 seats. More than half of opposition Labour Party lawmakers are women, compared to only one in four Conservatives. 65: The number of members of Parliament from ethnic minority backgrounds, up from 52. 45: The minimum number of lawmakers who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual, a similar number to 2017. The 2019 tally may be incomplete. 23: The age of the youngest lawmaker, Labour’s Nadia Whittome. A growing number of lawmakers under 30 may help lower the average age for members of Parliament, which in 2017 was 50. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
LONDON — Following last week’s decisive election victory for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservatives, the U.K.’s new Parliament leans to the right and is decisively pro-Brexit. It’s also the most diverse group of lawmakers the country’s voters have elected. A look at some of the numbers in the House of Commons: 220: The number of female lawmakers, 12 more than were elected in the last election in 2017. Women now occupy one-third of all 650 seats. More than half of opposition Labour Party lawmakers are women, compared to only one in four Conservatives. 65: The number of members of Parliament from ethnic minority backgrounds, up from 52. 45: The minimum number of lawmakers who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual, a similar number to 2017. The 2019 tally may be incomplete. 23: The age of the youngest lawmaker, Labour’s Nadia Whittome. A growing number of lawmakers under 30 may help lower the average age for members of Parliament, which in 2017 was 50. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now