Britain Confers Lordship On

Indians in Britain are finding far more success in the ways of the Lords than in those of the Commons.

Industrialist Raj Bagri, who is of Indian origin and president of the London Metals Exchange (LME), has become the fourth member of the House of Lords. The other three are Lord Meghnath Desai from the London School of Economics, Baroness Shreela Flather and industrialist Lord Swraj Paul.

That compares with only one MP strictly of Indian origin in the House of Commons Piara Singh Khabra elected from Southall. Conservative MP Nirj Deva is from Sri Lanka and MP Keith Vazs family, though of Indian origin, came to Britain from Athens.

Lord Raj Bagri, the newest member, was appointed to the House of Lords through the British honours system. He was not sponsored by any party, though he said, I have sympathies with the Conservative Party and its policies.

Lord Bagri says the honour is an important message to the Indian and the Asian community in Britain. It is a message that the Asian community has arrived to a point where it is accepted, he said.

Of course, it is true that life continues to be difficult for large numbers of Indians and Asians, he said. But once you see people from your own community being recognised, there is less reason to be on the defensive.

Meghnath Desai and Swraj Paul were sponsored to the House of Lords by the opposition Labour Party. Baroness Shreela Flather and now Lord Raj Bagri are the Indian Conservatives.