British Election: Kerala-Born Mental Health Nurse Among Labour Party Victors

In the early hours of Friday, a family in Kerala’s Kottayam district eagerly awaited the results of the British general election. Their anticipation turned to joy when a phone call confirmed that Sojan Joseph, who migrated to the UK in 2001, was elected to the House of Commons from Ashford. He became one of the 410 Labour Party lawmakers, marking the party's return to power after 14 years.

Joseph, 49, a National Health Service mental health nurse in Kent, made history by becoming the first Labour candidate to win from Ashford since the constituency was created 139 years ago. This was his first time contesting parliamentary elections.

He defeated Damian Green, a former First Secretary of State and leader of the Conservative Party, by 1,779 votes in a seat traditionally safe for the Tories. Green had represented Ashford for 27 years.

In Kerala, Sojan Joseph’s family received an outpouring of congratulatory messages. His 86-year-old father Joseph said, “I cannot express how happy we all are. We hadn't slept all night and were eagerly awaiting the results. His victory in such a significant election fills us with immense pride,” said the father who cultivates paddy, rubber, and tapioca.

He mentioned that his son wasn't very politically active while growing up, mostly focused on studies. However, they noticed his socialist inclinations, which likely drew him to the Labour Party. He became highly involved there, participating in marathons and boat races to support social causes," he shared. Regarding their political alignment, the father mentioned their longstanding support for the Congress. "My father was a local leader of the party."

Sojan Joseph's sister-in-law, Jancy Simon, mentioned that he last visited Kerala in March. "We're eagerly awaiting his next visit."

Sojan Joseph completed a three-year undergraduate nursing (psychiatry) course at Bengaluru's Dr. BR Ambedkar Medical College before moving to the UK in 2001. He unsuccessfully ran in a local council election in 2021 but succeeded two years later in the local poll.

Following his victory on Friday, Sojan Joseph told Kent Online, “Tonight marks a historic moment. My priorities include enhancing the town center and infrastructure, supporting small businesses, and addressing local needs in Ashford.”