LONDON
Three of the four prominent candidates of Goan origin won at the general elections in the UK, when results came in on Friday.
The winning candidates were Suella Braverman (Conservative) who won from Fareham and Waterlooville, Valerie Vaz (Labour) who got elected for a fifth term as MP from Walsall South and Claire Coutinho (Conservative) who won from East Surrey.
On the other hand, veteran politician Keith Vaz lost from Leicester East after contesting from a new local party ‘One Leicester Party’, which was launched in August last year.
GOAN CAMPAIGNERS REACT
Swindon Mayor Imtiyaz Shaikh and his wife, Councillor Adorabelle Shaikh, who had campaigned for the Labour Party, said they were “over the moon with Victory and Gratitude.”
“2024 marks a great victory for The Labour Party nationally and locally in Swindon with the country voting decisively for change. The results are a sobering verdict for the outgoing Conservative administration from the public,” said Shaikh.
Swindon Mayor Imtiyaz Shaikh and his wife, Councillor Adorabelle Shaikh, along with Heidi Alexander, South Swindon MP (top) and Will Stone, North Swindon MP (bottom).
“This victory was not achieved alone. Our sincere thanks go out to the residents across Swindon who turned out to cast their vote. A big thanks to them for continuing to place their faith & trust in the Labour Party, change begins now after 14 years of Tory destruction.”
“I also want to extend a special thank you to our campaign coordinators, the amazing volunteers, and our brilliant leafletters who worked tirelessly to make this possible. Yet, the most profound gratitude goes to our Swindon communities, who stood by us and supported our vision over the past 48 months.”
Shaikh said this triumph signifies more than just a political win, it is a resounding call for progress and a better future for all of Swindon.
“We are ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work because we owe this victory to you. Change begins now,” he added.
Rabi Martins, a key member of the Liberal Democrat’s Party National and local campaigning team, said the polls had prepared him for a Labour Victory but admitted that the results of the election had left him speechless.
“Like most people, I was tired of a Tory government that for the past five years or so has governed in the interest of the rich at the expense of the welfare of the poor. So the Labour victory is very much to be welcomed,” said Martins.
“I am of course also delighted that my Party, the Liberal Democrats with 71 MPs – a historic high for us – is now the third largest Party in the UK. I am hopeful that Ed Davey and his team will use that voice to address the injustices and divisions that 14 years of conservative rule has
created.”
Martins said he is particularly hopeful that the Lib Dem’s will hold Keir Stamer to the pledges they made on health, housing and the environment.
“This election result has done more than change the administration. With the election of Nigel Farage it has essentially shifted the dial on a move to the right. Given what is happening in the rest of Europe things are likely never to be the same again in the UK,” said Martins.
