Rishi Madlani, a sustainable finance professional, on Monday emerged as the only British Indian candidate in the race to succeed former prime minister Keir Starmer as the member of Parliament from his London constituency.
“I know this community, I know what it means to serve residents as a councillor, I understand the pressures facing families, renters, workers and young people. Menon, one of the most prominent Indian figures in British public life of his generation, began his political journey from St Pancras before achieving the highest levels of international diplomacy. Almost 80 years later, another British Indian Camden councillor is putting his name forward to serve the people of Holborn and St Pancras, the group said.
And my professional experience has given me a deep understanding of how we can grow our economy, invest responsibly and tackle the climate crisis,” he said. “Rishi’s candidacy represents the continuing evolution of British Indian participation in the Labour movement,” it said.
Madlani is hopeful of making the final list of candidates, spurred on by his combination of local government experience, community activism, economic expertise and climate leadership that gives him the edge. “I am incredibly proud of the contribution British Indians have made to the Labour movement and to public life in this country. The by-election is pegged as Andy Burnham’s first major electoral test since taking over as Prime Minister from Starmer in July. Green Party leader Zack Polanski has jumped on the constituency as his chance to grab a Commons seat, and it has already emerged as a bruising battleground, with far-right Reform UK being accused of racism over comments about Labour’s other candidate in the running – former Somali child refugee Sagal Abdi-Wali.
The story of Krishna Menon – a Labour councillor here in St Pancras who went on to become independent India’s first High Commissioner to Britain – is a remarkable part of that history,” he said.
“British Indians have never been spectators in Britain’s story. We have helped shape its politics, its economy, its culture and its communities.
I am proud to be part of that tradition — and determined to help shape what comes next,” he said.
