Muslim MPs double
The number of Muslim MPs has doubled to eight in the closest elections in decades and saw the first three Muslim women – all Labour - elected to the 650-member House of Commons.
In addition, the first Conservatives have gained their first two Muslim MPs but the possibility of adding a third were dashed after Zahid Iqbal failed in overturning Labour’s 3,000 majority in Bradford West, northern England.
Thursday’s elections were marked by a swing from Labour to the Conservatives and resulted in one of two Muslim ministers, Shahid Malik losing his parliamentary seat for Dewsbury in northern England by just over 1,500 votes.