Rajesh Agrawal, a former Deputy Mayor of London for Business, is the Labour candidate for Leicester East, an East Midlands constituency. Fluent in Hindi, Agrawal was born in Madhya Pradesh and grew up in India. Leicester is home to many British Indians and recent immigrants from India, and there are also several South Asian political candidates hoping to stand for the UK Parliament to represent Leicester East, an area that has seen clashes over religion in 2022.
What are the issues in your constituency and how are they different from the issues being debated at the national level?
Frankly, the issues are very similar across the country. But the particular issues in east Leicester are unemployment and low wages, which combined with the rising cost of living is a double whammy. We see this issue all the time. And that’s why I’ll use my experience as Deputy Mayor of London and as an entrepreneur to do everything I can to stimulate east Leicester’s economy, create new jobs, attract investment and support businesses here in east Leicester.
Adding to the problems of declining public services, people are unable to see their GP [ doctor ] Dentist appointments, hospital appointments – all of these are big issues. When it comes to education, it’s very difficult to get kids to school. And of course Leicester East needs someone who can bring different communities together. I’m very proud to be London’s first Hindu Deputy Mayor, working alongside the first Muslim Mayor of London, and I want to work to bring all the communities in Leicester together.
Two years ago, there was unusual communal trouble. Marco Longhi, the Conservative candidate for Dudley, was recently accused of trying to stir things up. There was also news of trouble between RSS and BJP figures two years ago. Has it died down? Are we seeing any signs of that this year?
Leicester has been a symbol of a multicultural society for decades, with people of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds living together. Of course, there have been some challenges recently, but that’s why there’s such a strong will among the different communities to really come together. This is still an ongoing effort. Of course, we have to keep working hard. We should not take anything for granted.
In this election, have you seen any movement from abroad, for example, from Indian political parties, particularly affiliates of the BJP RSS?
I haven’t seen anything. I mean, there’s no sign of that whatsoever. I’ve been very focused on the election campaign, I’ve been talking to people, but all the thousands of conversations I’ve had, frankly, tend to be about local issues like jobs, the economy, public services, the NHS.
What activities are being undertaken in Leicester East to keep the community together?
Dialogues are happening. For example, Hindu and Muslim women are meeting regularly. Tea parties are being organised, people of different faiths are having one-on-one teas etc. So, community efforts are happening. We know there is a strong will among all communities to come together. It has to be community-driven, not politically driven.
How is the issue of immigration playing out in Leicester East and are there any differences between first generation and other generations on this issue?
Leicester is a city of immigrants. We have amazing stories of people who came from all over the world, particularly via East Africa or directly from South Asia. Many of them came here with nothing. They worked hard, they lived together and they made it in life. This is a community full of hope. In that sense we are very proud to be a city of immigrants. But at the same time, 14 years of Conservative government have done a poor job of providing jobs, opportunities and services to help newcomers integrate into their new country.
There is no doubt that net immigration needs to be reduced, but what is important is that as people come into the country, infrastructure such as hospitals and surgeries keeps up. [doctors’ clinics] Schools, transport, housing – everything was built, but the government really failed to do that, so we are very proud of the contribution that immigrants have made to Leicester, particularly from the subcontinent.
Overall Asians vote Labour, but there’s the Sunak factor – how is that working in Leicester?
Ultimately, the people of this country are going to vote on issues that affect them every day. And the fact is, we’re stuck in this very poor economy, and our economic growth is extremely slow. There aren’t enough paying jobs. People can’t get GP, dentist, hospital appointments. Children can’t get to school. Class sizes are really going up. All these issues are of major concern to people across the country, including the British Indian community. So while we’re proud to have the first non-white, Indian person as Prime Minister, the main issue has been his performance, which has been very disappointing.
What makes your candidacy different from former MPs Claudia Webb (Independent) and Keith Vaz (a long-standing former Labour MP running again)?
I have an incredible track record, and not only am I a first-generation immigrant, like many of us here in Leicester East, I came to this country with very little. I built a business and served as Deputy Mayor for Business for London, one of the greatest and most diverse cities in the world.
How did your beginnings and background in India influence your political activism and desire to be in politics?
I was born and raised in what is called a lower middle class family in India. My mother was a school teacher and my father was a mechanic for the Madhya Pradesh Irrigation Department. We were very poor but I had a good education. I went to a Catholic school in Indore and completed all my education and studied business. My first full-time job was in website design services with a salary of 5000 rupees per month. I was in Chandigarh and Mumbai. Then I got an opportunity to come to this country. I still remember the first time I landed at Heathrow Airport. [ in 2001]I had never been on a plane before.
I was a young man, 24 years old. This country welcomed me and gave me so much. For me, this is like giving back to the society and the community that gave so much to me.
I also Janmabhoomi (Birthplace) and my Karma Bhoomi (Land of work). When I first became Deputy Mayor of London, India was the fourth largest investor in London. By the time I left, India was the largest investor in London. I opened three offices in India to promote trade and investment between the two countries.
