Sojan Joseph, a National Health Service (NHS) mental health nurse who moved from Kerala 22 years ago, is one of the new Labour MPs elected to the House of Commons in this week’s UK general election.
Joseph, 49, pledged to expand mental health services in his constituency and connected with voters door-to-door, successfully striking a blow to the Conservative stronghold of Ashford in Kent, southeast England.
Joseph defeated Conservative Party senior and former minister Damian Green, also dealing a blow to the right-wing candidate’s anti-immigration rhetoric in a constituency where the far-right Reform UK came third to the Conservatives.
“I am grateful for the trust you have placed in me and am fully aware of the responsibility that comes with it. I will work hard for the people of Ashford, Hawkinge and the villages,” Joseph said in his acceptance speech on Friday.
Being a local councillor and BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) officer would have prepared the medical professional for the new challenges of parliament, but he feels it is his 20-plus year career in the NHS as a mental health nurse that has given him the empathy he needs for his new job in parliament.
An added motivation for him is his connection to the local community of Ashford, where he has lived with his wife and three children for over 15 years.
“I am incredibly proud to call Ashford and Willsborough home and I have taken part in numerous fundraisers over the years including marathons for various charities and dragon boat races for the local hospital charity,” said Joseph, who has taken part in several international marathons for charity.
“I am a firm believer in an inclusive society that seeks to realise the full potential of every individual in our community,” he added.
Joseph, who went to school in Kottayam, completed her nursing studies at BR Ambedkar Institute of Medical Sciences in Bangalore. She went on to do a master’s in health leadership with a focus on diversity and inclusion in public health care in the UK. Many voters noted that she was very keen to ensure everyone has access to mental and physical health services during her campaign.
When he takes up his seat in the House of Commons next week, he will be joined by several other members of the first Labour MPs of Indian descent, reflecting a growing national turn towards Labour since Keir Starmer’s party won overwhelming support to form a new government.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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