Indian-origin voters to play major role 2015 UK polls: Report

In last election, support for Conservatives among ethnic minorities was 16%, compared with 36% across population

Lack of support among Indian-origin and Asian voters could cost Britain's Conservative-led government the 2015 general election, a new independent study of the country's demographics has warned.

According to the research by think-tank British Future, almost one in five new voters at the next election will be from an ethnic minority.

Of those voting for the first time in 2015, 18% will be from non-white backgrounds, compared with 12% of the electorate in 2010.

In the last election, support for the Conservatives among ethnic minorities was 16%, compared with 36% across the population.

According to The Times, the latest study by British Future suggests that the coming of age of a new generation could mean that Prime Minister David Cameron pays an even heavier price next year if he fails to make progress among non-white groups.

About 3.5 million Britons will be eligible to vote for the first time in May next year.

According to the 2011 census, just over 621,000 will be from Asian, black, mixed-race or other ethnic minority backgrounds.

Based on previous trends, about 247,000 of these people are likely to use their ballot.

If the Conservatives fail to increase their appeal to non-white groups, 171,000 are projected to vote for Labour compared with 36,000 for the Tories.

Sunder Katwala, the director of British Future, said the party should be encouraged by research that showed younger voters were more willing to shop for the right party.

"This new generation of ethnic minority voters are still up for grabs if the Tories make greater efforts to appeal to them," he said.

Cameron has also taken other steps to address the issue by appointing Indian-origin Tory MP Alok Sharma to oversee a plan for engagement with ethnic minority voters.